Verdict
Gordon Elliott is mob-handed as he looks to saddle the winner of this for the fourth time in five years. Davy Russell has ridden the winner in three of the last six years and gets the leg-up on Sassy Yet Classy, who beat Dallas Des Pictons over 3m at Punchestown in November and was only beaten a neck in a Grade B handicap over 2m4f at Navan on her latest start when another stablemate, Folcano, was a close-up fourth having been sent off favourite. Sire Du Berlais is still 4lb higher than when landing this in 2020 but was a cracking second in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year and had excuses when behind The Jam Man and Third Wind in his prep race at Warwick. ALAPHILIPPE was only fifth that day but was the one that will have gone into most notebooks as he was having a first run since fifth in last year’s Albert Bartlett. He’d looked the likely winner turning for home but blew up approaching the last – Fergal O’Brien’s charge will be fully primed now. Tullybeg is another Elliott entry with decent claims and Emmet Mullins has high hopes for Winter Fog, blinkered for the first time after a second at Leopardstown where Dunboyne finished fifth. Coeur Serein could reward each-way support at bigger odds.
Formwatch
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, slow 3 out, ridden and headway approaching last, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Sporting John (11-5) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Ballyandy 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear when jumped left last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Jepeck (10-11) by 6l, 8 ran.
Dallas Des Pictons (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway in 2nd 2 out, soon pushed along and lost place early straight, weakened, 14th of 24, 35 1/2l behind Good Time Jonny (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
The Jam Man (IRE) 22-1 (11-11) Led, 3 lengths lead halfway, slight mistake 5 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off, 17th of 24, dist behind Good Time Jonny (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Sassy Yet Classy (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along 4 out, progress and ridden in 12th 2 out, good headway early run-in, stayed on well to go 2nd close home never nearer, 2nd of 21, nk behind Futurum Regem (9-12) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Honest Vic (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, outpaced after 3 out, well held 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Risk And Roll (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Third Wind 16-5 (11-10) Raced keenly, held up tracking leaders, pushed along and lost place before 8th, went remote 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Wholestone (11-4) at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Tullybeg (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, no impression from last, 5th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Kansas City Chief (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Dame De Compagnie (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Towards rear, pushed along before 8th, ridden before next, soon struggling, well held when bad mistake 3 out, eventually completed, 6th of 10, dist behind Orbys Legend (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Dolphin Square (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Mill Green 28-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway chasing leaders before 4 out, disputing 3rd and every chance when stumbled next, ridden and went 2nd until hit the last, went 2nd again run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Foillan (10-0) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Alaphilippe (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Raced wide tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, headed next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Sporting John (11-5) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Winter Fog (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Towards rear, mistake at 1st, progress to 12th before 6th, headway after 3 out, improved to lead after 2 out, headed under 1f out, ridden and no impression on winner, 2nd of 27, 3 1/4l behind Panda Boy (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Whatsnotoknow (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 5th and closer 2 out, ridden and went 4th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 24, 3 1/2l behind Good Time Jonny (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
If The Cap Fits (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, stayed on run-in, never going pace to get involved, 5th of 17, 20 1/4l behind Green Book (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Folcano (FR) 10-3fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, ridden to dispute lead after 2 out, improved to lead inside final furlong, headed close home, dropped to 4th last strides, 4th of 21, 1/2l behind Futurum Regem (9-12) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Pileon (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 14, 21 1/4l behind Dolphin Square (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Born Patriot (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Chased leaders on inside, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 17, 25 1/4l behind Green Book (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Coeur Serein (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge before last, kept on well flat, went second final 50yds, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Emmpressive Lady (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-12) Made all, pushed along 2 out, ran on, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Gleno (10-8) by 8l, 5 ran.
The Cob (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led next, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leading pair, well held, ridden and weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 17, 15 1/4l behind Green Book (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Dunboyne (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway on inner after 3 out, close 8th when bad mistake next, no impression entering straight and no extra approaching last, 13th of 24, 33l behind Good Time Jonny (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Go Another One (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened run in, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind The Big Galloper (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Didtheyleaveuoutto (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon beaten, last of 12, 30 3/4l behind Dans Le Vent (10-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
