chased leaders on inside, hit 4th (water) and lost place, went right next, not fluent 6th, fell 10th
soon off the pace towards rear, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, towards rear and struggling 4 out, tailed off
off the pace towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
raced on inside, towards rear, mistake 5th, hit 16th, tailed off when pecked badly 4 out, no chance when mistake 2 out, pulled up before the last
front rank, pushed along and outpaced in 5th turning in, weakened between last two
soon held up in mid-division out wide, towards rear when bad mistake 16th, pulled up soon after
headway on inside chasing leaders 4th, lost place and towards rear 16th, tailed off and pulled up soon after
mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders 3 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, went 2nd at the last, no chance with winner, weakened badly run-in, finished tired
chased leader until 14th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, bit closer out wide in mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 10th
held up in mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, only 7th jumping the last, ran on strongly run-in, went 2nd final 100 yards and closed, not reach winner
raced wide and never closer than mid-division, tailed off
never closer than mid-division, tailed off when bad mistake 15th, pulled up before 16th
mid-division early, soon lost place and towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 18th
chased leaders, weakened and hit 3 out, no chance when unseated rider next
raced out wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 13th, went 2nd and hampered by loose horse 3 out, led next, stayed on gamely run-in
led, hit 7th and 14th, headed 2 out, ridden and chased winner until the last, went 2nd again run-in, soon slightly hampered by loose horse, lost 2nd final 100 yards, weakened into 4th soon after
mid-division, fell 1st
ran in snatches, headway on inside chasing leaders 6th, went 2nd 14th until 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied well run-in, went 3rd inside final 100 yards
soon towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 18th
chased leaders, hampered by loose horse going to 4 out, ridden home turn, weakened soon after
towards rear, towards rear when went right and almost unseated rider 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
NonRunner
Brain Power had decent form under Rules when trained by Nicky Henderson. He made an impressive start for Warren Ewing in an Open at Tyrella in January and is a live each-way option in this. Jamie Codd partners The Storyteller who was second in the Pertemps Final here in 2020 and fifth in the Stayers Hurdle the following year. He won three times between the flags at the end of last year but was a disappointing favourite behind Vaucelet and Dorking Cock at Down Royal in December. The first and second chased home BILLAWAY at Punchestown last year and the 11-year-old is running in this for the fourth time. Second in 2020 and 2021, he finally got his head in front last year. Blinkers are fitted after he only beat Le Malin half-a-length at Naas last month but he is probably the one to beat again if in the mood. Paul Nicholls runs Cat Tiger and Secret Investor with the latter preferred and Famous Clermont is a prolific winner. Chris's Dream has won his last two between the flags and has run at The Festival twice before while Its On The Line is the mount of Derek O’Connor so won’t lack assistance from the saddle.
Billaway (IRE) 2-7fav (12-0) Led, raced wide, bad mistake 9th, slight mistake 6 out, headed and reminder 3 out, soon pushed along in 3rd, disputed 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well, led closing stages, won at Naas 3m 1f Yielding in Feb beating Le Malin (12-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Black Op (IRE) 4-7fav (12-0) (tt) stdy hdwy 8; rdn aft 3 out; led app last; stayed on wl, won at Sheriff Hutton 3m sft in Jan beating The Unmentionable (12-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Bob And Co (FR) 11-2 (12-0) Towards rear, not fluent 7th, fell 9th, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Brain Power (IRE) 4-7 (11-11) Rcd 3rd, tr ldrs 1/2 way, 3l 3rd 4out, gng best 2out, jnr ldr appr str, 1l adv at bypassed last, ko best flat, won at Tyrella 3m gd in Jan beating Samurai Cracker (12-2) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cat Tiger (FR) 11-4fav (11-13) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd and 8th, headway 12th, mistake next, no extra 2 out, 5th of 9, 27 3/4l behind Larry (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 1-4 (12-2) Made all & j well, 3l adv bef 8th, redcd ld bef 8th, 2l adv 4out, went 3l clr 2out, ko best, won at Carrigarostig 3m sft in Jan beating Welsh Saint (12-2) by 3l, 3 ran.
Dandy Dan (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) (5a) outpcd 13; kpt on wl 2 out, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Law Of Gold (11-7) at Garthorpe 3m in Feb.
Dorking Cock (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Led or disputed, led before 2 out (usual 3 out), pressed after 2 out, asserted and 2 lengths lead early run-in, soon ridden and hung right, strongly pressed close home, headed post, 2nd of 8, nk behind Vaucelet (12-0) at Down Royal 3m sft in Dec.
Famous Clermont (FR) 4-5fav (12-4) Chased leaders, left in lead 5 out, came clear from next, easily, won at Haydock 2m 6f (3) gs in Feb beating Envious Editor (12-4) by 18l, 8 ran.
Go Go Geronimo 4-9fav (12-10) (cp) (tt) made all; drew clr 15; unchall, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Jan beating Imnottalkingtoyou (12-0) by 25l, 4 ran.
I K Brunel 3-1 (12-6) Chased leaders, led before 4 out, clear 3 out, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 7f (5) gd in Feb beating Not That Fuisse (12-6) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
Its On The Line (IRE) 4-5 (12-2) Ld/disp, ld bef 3out, chall bef 2out where outjmpd & hdd brfly aftr 2out, ld again gng best bef last, kow, won at Kildorrery 3m Yielding in Feb beating Lord Schnitzel (12-2) by 1l, 4 ran.
Le Malin (FR) 5-2 (12-2) Ld/disp, sl mstk 7th, ld bef 2out & wo, kow on run-in, comfortably, won at Lisronagh 3m in Feb beating Somptueux (12-2) by 11l, 5 ran.
Mighty Stowaway (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) (cp) (tt) 2nd/3rd to 12; wknd 3 out, 4th of 8, dist behind Fumet D'Oudairies (12-0) at Horseheath 3m in Dec.
Moratorium (IRE) 1-2fav (11-9) (5a) hdwy 13; sust chall 3 out; led last; jnd post, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Feb beating Monsun Storm (12-0), 6 ran.
Myth Buster (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) (cp) made all; clr 4 out; stayed on wl, won at Kingston Blount 4m gd in Feb beating Polydora (11-7) by 30l, 5 ran.
Premier Magic (IRE) 8-11fav (12-0) (tt) hdwy to ld aft 15; drew clr 2 out; r.o wl, won at Garthorpe 3m sft in Feb beating Law Of Gold (12-0) by 14l, 5 ran.
Rocky's Howya (IRE) 4-5 (12-2) Made all & jw, went 6l clr gng best bef 3out, 15l adv 2out & went further clr bef last, kow, easily, won at Tallow 3m Yielding in Feb beating Chatham Street Lad (12-2) by dist, 6 ran.
Secret Investor 8-13fav (12-6) Led 1st until bumped 11th, not fluent 12th, led 13th, went right and launched at 3 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gd in Feb beating Sir Jack Yeats (11-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 2-5fav (12-7) (bl) (tt) led aft 1 til stumbled & ur bend aft 5, at Charlton Horethorne 3m gd in Mar.
The Storyteller (IRE) 4-7 (12-2) Pr, 2nd 4out, ld 3out, jnd from 2out & rdn, ev ch last, hdd flat but ko to line, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Down The Highway (11-11) at Punchestown Pts 3m Good - Yielding in Feb.
Vaucelet (FR) 2-1 (12-0) Led or disputed, not fluent 5 out (usual 6 out), 2nd before 2 out (usual 3 out), challenged after 2 out, ridden in 2nd and no impression early run-in, kept on well to press leader close home, led post, won at Down Royal 3m sft in Dec beating Dorking Cock (12-0) by nk, 8 ran.
Wotzizname (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) (5a) (tt) wl bhnd 12, 6th of 7, 25 3/4l behind Grageelagh Girl (11-0) at Larkhill 3m gf in Feb.
Not That Fuisse (FR) 5-4fav (12-6) Held up in rear, hit 4 out, soon not clear run, closed on outside 3 out, went 2nd from last, ran on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind I K Brunel (12-6) at Taunton 2m 7f (5) gd in Feb.
