soon tracked leaders at slow pace and a little keen, ridden and on terms 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon dropped to rear and no extra
held up in touch at slow pace, improved to challenge 2f out, on terms over 1f out, edged right briefly and headed inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner
disputed lead early at slow pace, close up, pushed along briefly over 2f out to soon challenge, on terms over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on best
disputed lead at slow pace and took keen hold, soon led, headed over 2f out, 3rd from 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in touch at slow pace, closed to challenge from over 2f out and edged left, no extra in 4th from 1f out
This could be interesting and informative. BEL SAS was beaten a couple of lengths by Clondaw Cracker in a point at Glenbane in November but the winner went for £120,000 at the Cheltenham Sales a month later and the form could prove very strong. The Storyteller made a very promising start over hurdles at Down Royal in October and Gordon Elliott regularly brings his horses into bumpers after a decent run over timber. Lakeside Castle will be better for his run at Leopardstown while Gettysburg Address is a half-brother to a smart bumper and jumps winner.
Bel Sas (FR) 2-1 (11-10) Tr ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, 2nd 3out, ko sme pce str, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Clondaw Cracker (11-5) at Glenbane 3m mdn gs in Nov.
Derrynane (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no impression into straight, 6th of 8, 23 3/4l behind Bacardys (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m hvy in Dec.
Gettysburg Address (IRE) Milan gelding out of Cat Burglar.
Lakeside Castle (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, progress into 5th under 3f out, ridden into 4th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Village Mystic (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m sft in Jan.
The Storyteller (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, mistake 2nd, dropped to rear of mid-division at 5th, headway into 4th 4 out, went 2nd from next, not fluent 2 out and soon ridden, pressed winner briefly until awkward jump and mistake at last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Cogryhill (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 6f mdn Yielding in Oct.
Breakdown Cover (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Keen held up in rear, ridden 4f out, never on terms, 5th of 6, 16 1/4l behind Moonshine Ridge (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m (6) gd in Nov.
