held up in last pair, not always fluent, mistake 3rd and again 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, never a threat
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, headway under pressure next, switched inside and ridden to chase leaders before last, kept on flat, just held for 3rd, no impression
mid-division, driven after 3 out, soon lost place, behind from next
mid-division, outpaced when hampered and pecked 2 out, never able to challenge, weakened last
made all, hit 7th, driven after 3 out, 3 lengths clear last, ridden and stayed on strongly flat
in touch on outside, driven and one pace after 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened last
tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened before last
mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
tracked winner, lost place after 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd and 3 lengths down approaching last, kept on same pace under pressure flat, not reach winner
tracked leading pair, driven to chase winner after 2 out to before last, soon ridden, gradually weakened flat
behind, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, weakened before last
mid-division, close up 6th, chased leading pair and effort after 2 out, soon ridden and lost place, one pace before last, kept on flat but no impression
mid-division on outside, not fluent 4 out, headway 2 out, soon driven to chase leaders, one pace approaching last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
held up in last pair, outpaced 2 out, stayed on into mid-division approaching last, never near leaders
mid-division on inside, headway to track leaders going well when blundered and lost place 2 out, ridden to chase leaders before last, went 3rd after last, kept on, unable to reach front pair
No five-year-old has ever won this so Abyssial and last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll are facing stiff tasks. Jetson is a regular at The Festival and beat the brilliant Quevega as well as last year's third At Fishers Cross and Reve De Sivola in a Grade 1 at Punchestown last year. Monksland, the disappointing At Fisher's Cross, Dedigout and Zaidpour were also behind when he finished second to Lieutenant Colonel in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last time but the 10-year-old may struggle to overturn that form with Sandra Hughes' improving stayer, who looks the pick of the Irish runners. However, this is one race in which the home team tends to hold sway and that may be the case again. WHISPER won last year's Coral Cup and went on to beat At Fisher's Cross and Zarkandar in a Grade 1 at Aintree. He has had just the one run this season, over fences, so will be fresher than most and wouldn't be the first two land this after failing to take to the larger obstacles. Saphir Du Rheu, who runs in the same colours as the all-conquering Big Buck's, has a similar profile to the selection and will be a big danger on his defeat of Reve de Sivola, Un Temps Pour Tout and Cole Harden in the Cleeve Hurdle - the fifth won easily over fences here on Tuesday.
Abbyssial (IRE) 5-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th from 3rd, 3rd at 6th, on terms before straight, still every chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Kitten Rock (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
At Fishers Cross (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) In rear, headway 5 out, riddedn before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, weakened run-in and lost 2 places, 5th of 6, 11l behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Aubusson (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Led until after 8th, led again before 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, 9th of 11, 10l behind Regal Encore (10-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Blue Fashion (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Raced keenly tracking leading pair, 2nd 4 out, upsides between last two, easily outpaced flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Faugheen (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Cole Harden (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Jumped left, tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, no extra approaching last, 4th of 6, 16l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Jetson (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Led, joined entering straight, ridden and headed last, tight for room on rail run-in, kept on under pressure, not match winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Lieutenant Colonel (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hdl G1 (1) sft in Dec.
Lieutenant Colonel 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, challenged entering straight, ridden to lead last, under pressure and kept on run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m hdl G1 (1) sft in Dec beating Jetson (11-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Monksland (IRE) 15-8fav (11-3) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2 out, stayed on to narrow lead before last, strongly pressed run-in and headed last strides, 2nd of 5, shd behind Dedigout (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) in Jan.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Led, headed 3 out, led again next, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 7th, mistake 9th, went 2nd before last, hard ridden flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Reve De Sivola (11-8) by nk, 6 ran.
Seeyouatmidnight 6-1 (11-13) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 6th, challenged from 3 out, every chance last, kept on run-in, always held, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Close up, soon 2nd, slightly slow 1st and pushed along briefly, not fluent 3rd, led after 4th, ridden along and joined before straight, soon headed, 3rd and left 2nd from 2 out, dropped to 3rd again run-in, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Kitten Rock (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Held up, closed 6th, close 3rd last, edged left flat, no impression on front pair final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Whisper (FR) 2-5fav (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd at 11th, 2nd before 4 out, not fluent next, ridden and held from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Ceasar Milan (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Zaidpour (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 2nd briefly next, no extra in 4th when left 3rd at last, kept on to regain 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Dedigout (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
Zarkandar (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Tracked leading pair travelling well, 2nd 3 out, upsides on bit 2 out, led before last where not fluent, 2 lengths clear flat, driven and headed towards finish, kept on, 2nd of 5, hd behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec.
Dedigout (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up in touch in rear, slightly hampered 1st, headway entering straight, improved to lead after 3 out, soon ridden, left further clear at last, kept on well run-in, won at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 (1) in Feb beating Zaidpour (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
