prominent, soon 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along before straight, soon lost place and no impression, fell 2 out
waited with, soon raced in 6th, took closer order to chase leaders approaching 6th, effort on inner straight, switched right before 2 out, switched left between last 2, 4th and fell last
chased leaders, soon 5th, headway and effort straight, led over 100yds out, stayed on well
waited with towards rear, pushed along briefly 4 out, pushed along again approaching straight, soon weakened
tracked leaders, soon 4th, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort on outer, no impression approaching 2 out where slight mistake, no extra
led, attempted to assert from 2 out, reduced lead and headed over 100yds out, one pace
prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along before straight, soon closed and effort, 3rd again and one pace run-in
waited with towards rear, pushed along from 7th, no impression 3 out, kept on same pace without threatening after
Sire Du Berlais ended the last campaign landing the Pertemps at Cheltenham from The Storyteller, who has given the form a massive boost subsequently. He could find this on the short side however and SUPASUNDAE (NAP), whose last 15 runs have been in Grade 1 company, landing the Aintree Hurdle over this trip in 2019, may have too much pace for him. Ronald Pump ran a superb race when runner-up to Lisnagar Oscar in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham though he's another suited by further but Sixshooter will need to improve for his run at Punchestown though will definitely be suited by this longer trip. Cracking Smart has a penalty for his Grade 2 victory over the track and trip in February which won't aid his cause.
Cracking Smart (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Slowly away, in rear, pushed along after 4 out, headway under pressure 2 out, ridden to chase leaders before last, stayed on into narrow 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 25, 6l behind Dame De Compagnie (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ronald Pump 20-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway before 3 out, not clear run after home bend, soon switched left then right, went 2nd before mistake last, stayed on, held inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Lisnagar Oscar (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 10-1 (11-12) 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, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar beating The Storyteller (11-9) by 1/2l, 24 ran.
Some Neck (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Waited with in rear, some slight mistakes, reminder 7 out, closed from 5 out, pushed along on outer from 4 out, prominent when fell next, at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Supasundae 9-1 (11-10) Mid-division, niggled along briefly before 3rd, headway after 5th, driven from 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 17, 14 1/2l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
French Dynamite (FR) 9-4fav (11-1) Soon led, pressed approaching straight, headed approaching last, one pace run-in, 4th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Five O'Clock (10-12) at Thurles 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Sixshooter (IRE) 11-8 (11-8) Disputed lead, headed 2nd and raced in 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, back on terms approaching straight, soon pushed along and gained narrow lead, went on from before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 3f Yielding in Oct beating Kilfenora (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Relegate (IRE) 11-2jfav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway and switched right before last, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms, 5th of 24, 8 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Tower Bridge (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 8th, mistake 11th, soon towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
