FAIRYHOUSE 17:00

Non Runners: TULLYBEG (IRE), HASTHING (FR), CANAL END (IRE). Fences: 25.

Time: 8m 12.6s Closing Sectional: (3.9f): 63.1s (104.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 153%, Betfair SP 105.3%

Apart from when I Am Maximus came with a barnstorming run from off the pace in 2023, prominent-racers have tended to hold sway in Ireland’s most valuable handicap in recent years and the 2025 renewal followed that trend with 3 of the first 4 home always in the firing line, none more so than the highly progressive novice Haiti Couleurs, who produced a smart performance to see of a stalwart of such events and the pick of the Willie Mullins contingent, marking the first time in over 10 years that the prize has gone to one not trained on home soil.

HAITI COULEURS (FR) has been a revelation over fences this season and managed to unearth further progress and follow up his Cheltenham Festival success, again displaying a straightforward temperament and an ability to jump and travel that will continue to stand him in good stead in top-end handicaps, looking an ideal candidate for Aintree next spring, especially with further improvement on the cards; disputed lead, jumped well in main, travelled well, went on 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well.

ANY SECOND NOW (IRE) is a horse of rare mettle and longevity and, though coming up just short in his bid to be the first teenager to land this event since Overshadow in 1953, ran yet another fine race as he brought the curtain down on a remarkable career that saw him win 7 of his 41 outings (including at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018/19) and also accumulate a fine record in both this event and the Grand National at Aintree, his final tally from both races boasting 3 second-place finishes and a third from 6 appearances; chased leaders, travelled well, ridden from 3 out, bumped 2 out, stayed on; he's been an absolute credit to connections.

QUAI DE BOURBON (FR) didn't arrive on the back of an ideal preparation but acquitted himself really well on handicap chase debut and his first try at a marathon trip, no shame in following home the first and second; in touch, slow fourth, not fluent 5 out, headway from next, ridden before 2 out, bumped there, no extra run-in.

DUNBOYNE (IRE) whose revival has been one of the low-key success stories in Ireland this season, lost his unbeaten record for the yard but ran a cracking race all the same, briefly looking the winner's chief threat in the straight; chased leaders, not fluent nineteenth, second 3 out, ridden before next, weakened approaching last.

JOHNNYWHO (IRE) shaped as if still in good form and clearly has a big race in him from this sort of mark, just running out of steam over this longer trip; mid-division, travelled well, headway after 4 out, ridden entering straight, no extra between last 2.

BETTER DAYS AHEAD (IRE) was a clear top weight and emerged with plenty of credit on what was just his fifth outing over fences, and will be one to note for a valuable handicap back at around 3m next season; in touch, not fluent third, not fluent again 5 out, ridden from next, one paced.

SHECOULDBEANYTHING (IRE) typically gave her running under a ride designed to get every bit out of her at a trip likely to prove beyond her optimum; raced off the pace, not fluent seventh, progress from 5 out, switched home turn, no extra approaching last; she'll benefit from a return to shorter.

ANOTHER CHOICE (IRE) has gone well fresh but had plenty on in this company after 5 months off; raced off the pace, ridden from 4 out, merely passed beaten horses.

BUSHMANS PASS (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, the longer trip seeming to take its toll (though was said to have returned lame); disputed lead until 4 out, weakened approaching next.

WILL DO (IRE) has kept good handicap company all season but appeared to find this one race too many; mid-division, blundered second, ridden before 4 out, weakened.

NOBLE BIRTH ran poorly after 3 months off, in trouble before any lack of stamina could be blamed; mid-division, lost place before 5 out, tailed off from next.

MALINA GIRL (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time; raced off the pace, not fluent 5 out, never dangerous.

SEARCH FOR GLORY (IRE) continues to struggle in open handicap company; mid-field, not fluent seventh, ridden from 4 out, weakened.

MINT BOY (IRE) shaped as if in good order but didn't see out the longer trip (will benefit from a return to around 3m); mid-field, headway approaching nineteenth, chased leaders 5 out, weakened from home turn.

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (FR) in first-time blinkers, arrived with solid handicap form in the bank and on the back of a morale-boosting win, but was soon on the back foot after an early error; mid-division, lost place when bad mistake sixth, behind from next, tailed off.

MOONOVERCLOON (IRE) back over fences after 6 months off, was making no impression when crashing out in x-rated fashion late on; mid-division, not fluent fifteenth, ridden 4 out, behind when fell heavily 3 out.

PANDA BOY (IRE) was once more undone by his jumping; mid-field, unseated rider fourteenth.

YEAH MAN (IRE) had shaped better than the result when down the field in this race last year but didn't give himself the chance to show what he could do this time around in first-time blinkers; mid-field, unseated rider eighth.

FINAL ORDERS had pushed Dunboyne close at Downpatrick but wasn't in the same form on this occasion, the race possibly coming too soon for one so new to marathon trips; mid-division, lost place from nineteenth, pulled up 5 out.

KINTURK KALANISI (IRE) back under a fully-fledged rider, shaped better than being pulled up suggests, his stamina ebbing away; mid-field, blundered second, crept closer fourteenth, chased leaders 5 out, ridden from next, weakened, pulled up last; one to keep in mind for a decent pot next season.

DAILY PRESENT (IRE) arrived at the very top of his game but turned in a lacklustre display in this event for the second year in a row; in rear, struggling when pulled up 5 out.

LORD LARIAT (IRE) won this race in 2022 but has hardly had a clear run at things since and looked a shadow of his former self here; chased leaders, lost place from nineteenth, pulled up before 3 out.

STUZZIKINI (IRE) continues out of sorts; mid-field, lost place nineteenth, pulled up before 3 out.

SA MAJESTE (FR) ran poorly, not jumping as well reverting to more patient tactics; mid-field, bad mistake fourteenth, not fluent nineteenth, weakened, pulled up before 2 out.

NOW IS THE HOUR (IRE) was expected to be suited by the test but was out of the contest before halfway, later said to be clinically abnormal; raced off the pace, blundered thirteenth, pulled up next.

DESERTMORE HOUSE (IRE) back over fences, hasn't won since the Kerry National in 2023/24 and ran poorly after 12 weeks off; in rear, struggling when pulled up 4 out.

SEQUESTERED (IRE) followed a below-par effort with an even worse one; raced off the pace, bad mistake twelfth, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out.

DUFFLE COAT (IRE) possibly found this a race too many after taking in both Cheltenham and Aintree; mid-division, lost place when blundered fifteenth, pulled up 5 out.

BIOLUMINESCENCE (IRE) one of the least experienced in the field, had seen her previous effort franked by Spindleberry the day before but no sort of race on handicap debut after 9 weeks off, the longer trip not the issue; raced off the pace, hampered sixth, struggling 5 out, pulled up 3 out, possibly amiss.

HARRY DES ONGRAIS (FR) arrived on the back of just 3 runs over fences and appeared to find the experience all too much; mid-division, not always fluent, lost place approaching 5 out, pulled up 3 out.