mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, went close 4th last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in touch, taken up on outside after 3 out, soon slightly outpaced, switched left approaching last, stayed on flat
held up, lost touch after 5th
tracked leaders, chased winner 2nd until 4th, ridden after 3 out, no extra approaching last
tracked winner until 2nd, remained prominent, went 2nd again 2 out, ridden and every chance flat, kept on
tracked leaders, chased winner 4th until 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, smooth headway 3 out, challenged last, upsides and still on bit flat, ridden and not quicken near finish
made all, ridden approaching last, strongly pressed flat, found extra and ran on gamely near finish
held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and switched right approaching last, stayed on, never able to challenge
in touch, close up 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up and behind, headway when pecked 2 out, ridden when hit last, never near leaders
held up and took keen hold, headway 3rd, losing place when jumped slowly 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, pushed along after 5th, beaten approaching 2 out
held up in rear, lost touch 5th
An absolutely fascinating renewal of hurdling's blue riband can see Hardy Eustace lead home a host of fellow Irish raiders including Back In Front, Harchibald, Brave Inca and Mac's Joy. Never have the Irish had such a strong hand numerically, and although there is certainly nothing of the calibre of Hatton's Grace, Monksfield or Istabraq in the field, the current crop look head and shoulders above anything that the home team can throw at them. The puzzle is working out which one to back though, and it is only marginally that we favour Hardy Eustace to emulate last year's success. Trainer Dessie Hughes has steadily brought him to peak fitness, and his victory in what was a virtual training exercise at Gowran Park last month should have put him spot on as he bids to turn the tables on Mac's Joy and Brave Inca who both finished ahead of him in the Irish Champion Hurdle. That was a carbon copy of another Grade 1 Hurdle at the same track in December, and at the weights there is still nothing to choose between the trio. However, Hardy Eustace has had the lightest preparation and Hughes can play his trump card in refitting the blinkers, a move that paid off in sensational style last March. Back In Front, although behind Harchibald at Punchestown in November, was subsequently successful in the Bula Hurdle here in December, with Rooster Booster behind, and if successful here, the 2003 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner would emulate the great Bula himself who captured the novices' crown before going on to greater success in the Champion. Mac's Joy obviously has the form in the bag against his compatriots already and Barry Geraghty is very bullish, but he has never raced up the famous hill before. Harchibald has, when fifth to Sporazene in last season's County Hurdle, and his improvement has been nothing short of amazing. Victories in the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdles give him leading claims as well, although by all accounts he did not work well last week. He would not be the first to bounce back from that sort of preparation though, and cannot be ruled out. Essex showed himself to be a bit better than a handicapper when landing a gamble in the totesport Trophy at Newbury. This is tougher though, and he will do well to battle for a place in such good company. This could turn into a procession for the Irish, and a blinkered approach can see Hardy Eustace lead them home.
Accordion Etoile (IRE) 14-1 Held up, 5th and in touch before 2 out, no extra before last, eased run-in, 5th of 6, 31l behind Macs Joy at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan.
Al Eile (IRE) 10-1 Held up, pushed along and well behind 4 out, plenty to do 2 out, ran on from last, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 25, 3l behind Essex at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Astonville (FR) 150-1 Behind, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb, 16 ran.
Back In Front (IRE) 5-2fav Held up, ridden and headway after 2 out, led and mistake last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Dec beating Inglis Drever by 4l, 7 ran.
Brave Inca (IRE) 7-2 Tracked leaders, bad mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, improved into 3rd approaching last, stayed on well under pressure, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Macs Joy at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan.
Essex (IRE) 4-1fav Always prominent, challenged from 3 out, shaken up to lead last, ridden clear flat, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb beating Bongo Fury by 3l, 25 ran.
Harchibald (FR) 8-11fav Held up, steady headway after 3 out, chased clear leader, 5 lengths down last, pushed along to lead final 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec beating Rooster Booster by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 1-6fav Settled 2nd, led travelling well 3 out, clear from next, not extended, won at Gowran Park 2m hdl Grd 2 (A) hvy in Feb beating L'Antartique by 25l, 6 ran.
Intersky Falcon 3-1 Held up in rear, headway 5th, pushed along next, soon outpaced, kept on again from 2 out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Harchibald at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Nov.
Macs Joy (IRE) 11-8fav Close up in 2nd, led briefly 5th, led again 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed after last, kept on well under pressure, all out, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan beating Brave Inca by a shd, 6 ran.
Rooster Booster 4-5fav Held up, headway to lead before 2 out, headed last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Self Defense at Sandown 2m lst hdl (A) gs in Feb.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 11-2 Pulled hard and chased leader, mistake 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Inglis Drever at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Self Defense 5-1 Held up, headway before 2 out, switched left and led last, kept on well flat, won at Sandown 2m lst hdl (A) gs in Feb beating Rooster Booster by 3l, 6 ran.
Turnium (FR) 100-1 Held up, effort approaching 4 out, soon beaten, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Present Bleu (FR) 14-1 Tracked leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 12th, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Auburn Spirit at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Feb, 5 ran.
