led and took keen hold, clear at halfway, reduced advantage entering straight, joined 3 out, disputing lead and every chance travelling well when fell 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead travelling well 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed when left in front 2 out, joined before last, headed at last, no impression on winner and dropped to 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 6th, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, 4th when hampered and left 3rd 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd inside final furlong
held up in last, closer in 4th and pushed along when slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, disputed lead before last, led at last, stayed on well run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and dropped to last entering straight, no impression, left moderate 4th 2 out
Sire Du Berlais won the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in 2020 then this a year ago. His only two subsequent starts resulted in defeats by FLOORING PORTER including in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival and though slightly better off at the weights with the winner he may have to settle for second again. Gavin Cromwell’s charge had a nightmare run in the Champion Stayers’ at Punchestown, before and during the race, which obviously wasn’t his form and he should bounce back. Sams Profile has had three runs over fences without much luck but landed a Grade 2 hurdle over 3m on heavy ground at Gowran in January and more rain would aid his cause. Darasso has race-fitness on his side and ran a cracking race when runner-up to the smart Saldier over a trip too short at Tipperary.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Led in at start, soon prominent, led after 1st, jumped left 3rd and tended to do so after and some slight mistakes, joined before 3 out, soon headed and weakened from before straight, pulled up last, at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in Apr.
Grand Roi (FR) 6-1fav (11-6) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 12th of 26, 14 3/4l behind Heaven Help Us (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, headway chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Darasso (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, soon 4th, 3rd 4 out, pushed along in close 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and disputed close 2nd and challenged, slight mistake last, went 2nd run-in but no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Saldier (11-3) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Oct.
Nibblers Charm (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Towards rear, pushed along after 3 out and 4th approaching straight, no impression 2 out, closer and slight mistake last, ridden and went 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Stratum (11-2) at Thurles 2m 7f gd in Oct.
Sams Profile 9-4 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, close up before 2 out, mistake last, soon no extra, weakened and eased, 10th of 11, dist behind Sixshooter (12-0) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
