pushed along briefly early, led and clear, reduced lead approaching 11th, headed approaching 2 out, soon no extra
chased leader in moderate 2nd, slight mistakes 5th and 10th, took closer order approaching 11th where slightly slow, pushed along and tight for room after 3 out, soon no impression
waited with, moderate 7th after 6th, took closer order approaching 11th, soon chased leaders, prominent and travelling smoothly from 3 out, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, strongly pressed and kept on well run-in, headed near line
waited with, moderate 5th after 6th, slight mistake 8th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along briefly from 4 out, effort from next, one pace between last 2
chased leaders, soon moderate 3rd, took closer order approaching 11th, prominent between horses from 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon joined and headed, one pace between last 2
waited with, soon well off pace towards rear, took closer order approaching 11th, soon pushed along briefly, pushed along again in last 4 out, kept on same pace from next
waited with, moderate 6th after 6th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along briefly on inner approaching 3 out where slight mistake and pushed along again, no impression when switched left between last 2, one pace
waited with, moderate 8th after 6th, slightly slow 8th, took closer order approaching 11th, challenged and almost on terms between last 2, stayed on well run-in to lead near line
chased leaders, soon moderate 4th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along behind horses after 3 out, not match principals from next, kept on without threatening run-in
CHRIS'S DREAM goes best fresh as he showed when landing the hugely-competitive Troytown Handicap at Navan last November. He had three months off before landing a Grade 2 at Gowran but less than a month when well beaten in the Gold Cup. Gordon Elliott is responsible for five of the entries including new recruit Presenting Percy, who fell at the second-last when there with a chance in the Cheltenham classic. He'd twice finished behind Delta Work in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown though wasn't beaten far in either. The latter was a big disappointment in this last year but is obviously a major threat. The Storyteller beat Tout Est Permis in a Punchestown Grade 3 a couple of weeks ago but the 10-times winner takes on the big guns here.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Disputed lead, headed 6th, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, dist behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, headway to chase leaders at 12th, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 34 1/2l behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 18th, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Delta Work (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd and 16th, headway when not much room and switched right after 3 out, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Presenting Percy 10-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 18th, closed after 3 out, 7th and staying on when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Ravenhill (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) In rear, not fluent 2nd, briefly pushed along at 4th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 6th of 8, dist behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before next, never reached leaders, weakened flat, 11th of 23, 15 3/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
The Storyteller (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Towards rear, slight mistake 1st, closer in 5th 3 out, 3rd travelling well entering straight, 2nd and jumped right 2 out, ridden to lead before last, jumped right at last, stayed on well run-in. comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Tout Est Permis (11-2) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, headway into 3rd on inner next, disputed lead travelling well entering straight, led 2 out and soon ridden, headed before last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 7 1/2l behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
