in touch towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden into moderate 3rd next, went 2nd without troubling winner run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to rear after 4 out, no extra approaching straight
tracked leader, slight mistake 4 out, dropped to moderate 3rd before 3 out, 4th and no extra next
in touch towards rear, closer in 3rd after 4 out, chased leader in 2nd before next, led 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
refused to race
led, clear approaching straight, reduced lead from 3 out, headed from next, soon no impression, dropped to 3rd run-in
It will be a major shock if SWEEPS HILL can't add to his already impressive tally here. John Kiely's son of Montjeu won the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown last season and has been mixing it with the top young hurdlers since his opening victories at Tipperary and Punchestown. He wasn't at his best behind Dunguib and Hello Ladies in December but bounced back with a superb effort behind Blackstairmountain in the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He has to concede 11lbs to Alpine Glade, a very good third to Tarla in a Grade 3 at Punchestown and likely to give the favourite a decent workout. Drussell landed a couple of minor races before being put in his place in Aintree's Grade 1 Matalan Novices' Hurdle and has since run poorly on the flat at Dundalk.
Sweeps Hill (NZ) 8-1 (11-12) Well off pace towards rear, closed approaching 3 out, ridden in 5th before straight, soon no impression in 3rd, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Blackstairmountain (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl G2 gd in Apr.
Charming Hills (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 4 out, 12th of 16, 42l behind Diyla (10-12) at Sligo 2m hcp hdl 80-95 gd.
Drussell (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden and weakened approaching 3rd last ommitted hurdle, 10th of 11, well behind Orsippus (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Alpine Glade (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear of mid-division, good headway on inner 3 out, 5th 2 out, went 2nd entering straight, under pressure in 3rd at last, no impression run-in, 3rd of 21, 5l behind Tarla (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 2f hdl G3 gd in Apr.
Belass Boy (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, 7th 3 out, no extra approaching straight, weakened, 13th of 18, well behind Hot Or What (11-9) at Clonmel 2m Handicap Hurdle (80-95) (5yo+) sft in Feb.
Carpet Elegance (IRE) Definite Arcticle gelding out of Tricky Dee.
Ardmulchan (IRE) Anshan gelding out of Bit Of The Past.
