mid-division, shaken up briefly after 8th and 9th, headway 2 out, challenged last, led inside final 100 yards, driven out, holding 2nd close home
tracked leaders, shaken up after 2 out, weakened before last
held up in mid-division, headway after 2 out, led last but pressed, headed inside final 100 yards, stayed on, held close home
held up in mid-division, mistake 7th, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, plugged on past beaten horses from last
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, mistake 8th, headway on inside 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, plugged on before last, no impression
held up in rear, not fluent 2 out, closed before home bend, went 4th before last, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
in touch in mid-division, lost place before 3 out, well behind when not fluent 2 out, ran into the back of a horse being pulled up and unseated rider before last
towards rear, pushed along after 7th, well beaten before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, ridden and beaten when mistake last, weakened
chased leaders, mistake 3rd and 8th, lost place after 2 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, pushed along after 2 out, no impression, well beaten before last
led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 4th, stayed handy, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, not fluent next, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway and switched right before last, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms
mid-division, headway on outside 2 out led before last, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, shaken up when slightly hampered and went wrong on home bend, soon pulled up
prominent, not fluent 9th, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
never going that well, always towards rear
in touch in mid-division, effort and tracking leaders going well home bend, shaken up before last, soon weakened
prominent, led before 4th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
always towards rear, well beaten 2 out
THE STORYTELLER won a Grade 3 over fences at The Festival in 2018 and is only 2lb higher in this. He has an even better strike-rate over hurdles and, after winning at Clonmel in December, was an eye-catcher in a hot contest at Leopardstown next time. Gordon Elliot has won the last two renewals and Davy Russell has ridden the winner in three of the last four years so they are further positives for the nine-year-old. Kilbricken Storm is starting to look very well treated and also won here in 2018, landing the Albert Bartlett. He’s been steadily coming to hand and may well reverse Haydock running with Welsh Saint on 6lb better terms. He was behind Skandiburg and Rapper here in January, however, and Olly Murphy’s charge has been saved for this. Relegate had a sighter at Punchestown three weeks ago, splitting A Great View and Royal Thief, and that will have blown away most of the cobwebs while Third Wind beat Jatiluwih at Wincanton on Boxing Day, though is tackling 3m for the first time in his career. Unowhatimeanharry has won four times here and was top-class stayer in his prime. He is still capable of useful form but, along with the last year’s winner Sire Du Berlais, is carrying a huge weight. Any market support for the lightly-raced Dream Berry should be noted.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, hampered 2nd, stayed on from 3 out, never near to challenge, 4th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Silver Sheen (10-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Unowhatimeanharry 10-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, raced quite keenly, some headway 8th, outpaced before 3 out, no impression after, plugged on flat, 5th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Welsh Saint (10-7) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
The Storyteller (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, 15th from 5th, moderate 11th before 2 out and headway, kept on without threatening straight, 6th of 25, 6l behind Treacysenniscorthy (9-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Jatiluwih (FR) 5-2jfav (11-12) Mid-division, headway on inside after 3 out, outpaced before next, switched left between last 2, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Third Wind (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Rocket Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Not always fluent, always well behind, 6th of 7, dist behind Highland Hunter (10-7) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
A Great View (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway into 5th on outer 2 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 16, 6 1/4l behind Mary Frances (10-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, closed next, mistake 7th, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Silver Sheen (10-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Third Wind 11-2 (11-3) Tracked front pair, effort on inside after 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden and edged right flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Jatiluwih (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Kilbricken Storm (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and beaten 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 14 1/4l behind Welsh Saint (10-7) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Dingo Dollar (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th until 4 out, chased leaders, plugged on, 5th of 14, 18 1/4l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Skandiburg (FR) 3-1fav (10-0) Towards rear, not fluent and reminder 7th, headway on inside off last bend, led flat, edged right, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Rapper (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Fred The Foot (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, not always fluent, in touch 4 out, one pace and no impression next, 4th of 7, 9l behind Highland Hunter (10-7) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Welsh Saint (FR) 9-4fav (10-7) Held up in touch, closed 3 out, challenged from 2 out, left in lead last, driven 2 lengths ahead flat, stayed on, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Silva Eclipse (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Dream Berry (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, mistake 8th, tracked leaders 4 out, driven to chase winner between last 2, ridden after last, no extra in 3rd when left clear 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Go Whatever (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Burrows Park (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leader who went clear after 6th, closer before 3 out, chased new leader on long run before 2 out, soon every chance until pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugging on disputing well held 4th when badly hampered after the last, 4th of 13, 12l behind Burrows Edge (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Relegate (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) In rear, headway after 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, 4th at last, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 6 1/2l behind Mary Frances (10-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 6th approaching straight, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 7, 37 1/4l behind Chris's Dream (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Rapper 13-2 (10-0) Tracked leader, led after 4th, headed off last bend, led again before last, headed flat, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Skandiburg (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Copper Gone West (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Prominent, not fluent 7th, 2nd 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Indefatigable (11-2) at Warwick 2m 5f lst (1) gs in Feb.
Royal Thief (IRE) 7-2fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden from 3 out, 3rd and mistake 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, 5th of 16, 8l behind Mary Frances (10-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place 9th, struggling 3 out, stayed on flat, no impression, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Welsh Saint (10-7) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Sunset Showdown (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, tracked leaders on inside approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, no impression with front pair, lost place flat, last of 5, 9 3/4l behind Theo's Charm (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Led 1st to 4th, with leader, hit 3 out, soon pushed along, led 2 out, soon ridden, 1 length clear when ran out last, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Last pair, some late headway, never on terms, 6th of 11, 18l behind Fleur Irlandaise (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
