in rear, pushed along after 4th, not fluent next, never on terms and well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, lost place before 3rd, pushed along after next, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, hung left and weakened before last
chased leaders until before 2nd, pushed along and struggling to hold position before next, 8th and no impression 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, ridden and not pace of winner before last, just held on to 2nd
prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden and not pace of winner when blundered last, stayed on flat, closing on 2nd close home
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, pushed along after 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear on outside, struggling after 5th, well beaten 3 out, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway to track leaders 3 out, outpaced after next, weakened before last
led until 1st, prominent, pushed along and every chance 2 out, outpaced by leaders when edged left before last, no impression after, kept on
mid-division, gradually closed from 4th, 5th when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced by leaders, stayed on same pace flat
led 1st, made rest, clear before last, ran on strongly
NonRunner
This looks a sub-standard renewal as none of the first four from last year have made the starting line-up this time around. The New One finished fifth 12 months ago following an interrupted preparation. He would have gone very close in 2014 had he not been hampered by a faller and can reverse that form with the returning My Tent Or Yours but is running in his fifth Festival and isn't getting any younger. Annie Power would not have been trained for this and had to be supplemented. She's bidding to become only the fourth mare in history to land hurdling's Blue Riband but is better over further – she was second in the World Hurdle in 2014 – and is no value at her current odds. The Mullins yard, bidding for a fourth win in six years, also saddle Nichols Canyon and the progressive Sempre Medici. The former was only third in last year's Neptune Investment but beat Fighting Fifth hero Identity Thief in the Ryanair at Leopardstown in December before running poorly in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Peace And Co, Top Notch and Hargam filled the first three places in last season's Triumph Hurdle but five-year-olds don't fare well in this as a rule. CAMPING GROUND is readily forgiven a run over 3m here in January as an earlier 11-length defeat of the tough Lil Rockerfeller over 2m4f at the track was a striking effort. Robert Walford's French import would have been a much shorter price had he been attached to a more fashionable yard and is a viable each-way selection as long as the ground doesn't dry out too much.
Camping Ground (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Raced keenly, prominent on outside, led 7th, hit 3 out, headed before last, ridden and weakened flat, 5th of 7, 25 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Hargam (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Close up, effort to dispute 2nd approaching 2 out, driven and kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Identity Thief (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Led, headed before 4th, led again 2 out, strongly pressed approaching last, under pressure and headed run-in, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Nichols Canyon (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) hvy in Dec.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 7-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 2 out, clear last, ran on strongly, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb beating Ubak (11-3) by 9l, 8 ran.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Held up towards rear and keen, in touch before 4th, blundered 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead before last, headed run-in, no extra, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Cockney Sparrow (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Nichols Canyon 10-3 (11-10) Raced 2nd and pressed leader, slight mistake and ridden 2 out, no extra in 3rd entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 28l behind Faugheen (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Peace And Co (FR) 4-7fav (11-4) Restrained into 3rd, last but well in touch 3 out, niggled along when not fluent 2 out, driven and unable to quicken before last, beaten and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Connetable (10-4) at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Sempre Medici (FR) 2-7fav (11-10) Chased leaders, soon 3rd, closed up travelling smoothly approaching straight, soon challenged between horses, pushed along from 2 out, soon on terms, led early run-in and stayed on best, asserted closing stages, won at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb beating Bentelimar (11-4) by 7l, 5 ran.
Sign Of A Victory (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) In rear, ridden 2 out, soon beaten, last of 5, 37 1/4l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
The New One (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 5th, ridden to lead before last, kept on, driven out, won at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Rayvin Black (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Top Notch (FR) 4-11fav (11-4) Held up in touch, headway on bit to lead last, readily, won at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb beating One For Harry (11-2) by 12l, 4 ran.
Annie Power (IRE) 1-20fav (11-7) Led and soon clear, extended advantage before halfway, slightly reduced advantage last, eased home run-in, not extended, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Feb beating Legacy Gold (10-11) by 6 1/2l, 3 ran.
Old Guard 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, 4th of 5, 12 1/4l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
