in touch, headway 3 out, challenged on outside after next, ridden to lead before last, forged clear flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
held up behind, headway after 3 out, chased front pair last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression
led, ridden and headed between last 2, one pace before last, well held after
towards rear on outside, outpaced 3 out, never able to challenge
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, driven to lead briefly between last 2, ridden and one pace after last, no impression with winner flat
mistake 1st, towards rear, headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, kept on same pace, never on terms
mid-division, headway on outside after 3 out, mistake next, weakened before last
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, behind from next
in touch, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace from last, no impression
towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, never near leaders
tracked front pair, ridden and lost place after 2 out, kept on same pace before last
tracked leaders early, mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 4th post, no impression
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
Only three of Willie Mullins' nine four-day entries stand their ground but Min was always going to be his trainer's best hope of a fourth successive win in The Festival opener and a sixth in total. He's won both starts this season with the minimum of fuss but may not be blessed with as much speed as some of his predecessors. Altior finished behind Bellshill and Charbel in last season's Champion Bumper but has come into his own over hurdles this term. He's won four times, including a Grade 2 here, though hasn't faced opposition of this calibre so far. Stablemate BUVEUR D'AIR is a strapping individual with bags of scope and may just be the value. A decent sort in bumpers himself last season, he had little more than an exercise canter at Huntingdon in January but his debut success over timber at Newbury in November couldn't have worked out better with the second, third, fourth and fifth all going on to win decent novice events. Silver Concorde, the 2014 Champion Bumper, hasn't really taken to hurdles and was slammed by Supasundae at Leopardstown over Christmas but Tombstone has already finished second in two Grade 1 contests and has to be respected.
Altior (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Keen, prominent, led 2 out, clear next, comfortable, won at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec beating Open Eagle (11-8) by 13l, 10 ran.
Bellshill (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Led, not fluent 1st, joined 3 out, pushed along into straight, soon headed, 3rd and no impression approaching last where slight mistake, no extra, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 2-11fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 2 out, clear flat, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Breath Of Blighty (11-4) by 7l, 9 ran.
Charbel (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Made all, ridden and hung right from after 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Feb beating Brain Power (11-8) by 11l, 8 ran.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon pushed along to chase leader, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Teo Vivo (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Min (FR) 1-7fav (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd early and pulled hard, led from 3rd and went quickly clear racing keenly, reduced advantage travelling well 2 out, went clear on-bridle approaching last, stayed on strongly run-in, not extended, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Attribution (11-2) by 9 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mister Miyagi (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Held up, headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 3 out, ridden to lead last, edged left run-in, driven out, won at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Star Trouper (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
North Hill Harvey 11-4 (11-8) Held up, mistake 2nd, not fluent 6th, headway after next, went 2nd 2 out, challenged 2 out, edged left flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Ma du Fou (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Feb.
Penglai Pavilion (USA) 5-6fav (11-7) Held up in touch in rear, tracked leading pair when hit 2 out, soon ridden and not quicken, no impression last, just held on for modest 3rd near finish, 3rd of 4, 17 3/4l behind Shantou Village (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, mistakes 3rd and 5th, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon no impression, no extra straight, 4th of 5, 23 1/2l behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Silver Concorde 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well into 2nd entering straight, ridden and no impression on leader before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Supasundae (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Supasundae 5-2 (11-12) Led, slow 1st and headed, chased leader in 2nd, slightly slow and slight mistake 2nd, challenged after 3 out, soon disputed, led 2 out, ridden entering straight, asserted before last, kept on strongly, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn hvy in Dec beating Silver Concorde (11-12) by 13l, 9 ran.
Tombstone (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up, soon 4th, 3rd after 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, challenged straight, on terms from before last and and every chance, not match winner and kept on same pace from 150yds out, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
William H Bonney 1-4fav (11-8) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Towcester 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Chic Theatre (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
