Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

GORDON Elliott’s uncanny knack of unlocking the intriguing annual puzzle that is the Pertemps Final was again in evidence as Sire Du Berlais and the irrepressible Barry Geraghty made it back-to-back wins in this race.

This was a third straight victory in this race for Elliott and the second time in three years that he has sent out as one-two as Sire Du Berlais (10/1) outpointed the 11/2 joint favourite The Storyteller.

Twelve months ago the winning combination needed almost every yard of the trip to get home by a neck but it was a different story this time as Sire Du Berlais defied a 7lb higher mark with aplomb.

Only the third horse to win this race back-to-back after Willie Wumpkins (1979-1981) and Buena Vista (2010 and 2011), Sire Du Berlais got into the line-up for this year’s race by virtue of his fourth-place finish in a qualifier at Warwick two months ago.

The cheekpieces that the J.P. McManus-owned eight-year-old wore in 2019 were replaced by blinkers this time and the headgear once again had the desired outcome.

Sire Du Berlais did make one notable mistake two-thirds of the way through the race but he recovered well and was ideally poised in behind the leaders turning for home.

At this point The Storyteller loomed up on the outer travelling especially well and a great jump by the latter at the last gave him a short lead.

The abundant stamina reserves of Sire Du Berlais soon kicked in and he fought his way past late on to carry the day by half a length.

Tout Est Permis was six and a half lengths back in third with the former Cheltenham Bumper winner Relegate staying on for fifth.

Gordon Elliott pointed the way towards Punchestown for the first two home, and Geraghty observed: “I thought that he had a lot to do this year and The Storyteller was the one I feared.

“We were almost side by side for a lot of the race and then I went down the inner and Davy went wide off the bend.

“The blinkers were a huge help to this horse this year. It meant I could ride a race on him and he travelled so well whereas last year it was hard work most of the way.”

Simply The Betts franks the form

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Grade 3)

AFTER that agonising near miss with Saint Calvados in the Ryanair, trainer Harry Whittington, owners Kate and Andrew Brooks and jockey Gavin Sheehan got among the winners courtesy of Simply The Betts.

As ever this race looked highly competitive but Simply The Betts boasted an utterly compelling piece of form in the shape of his victory over Imperial Aura in a novice handicap chase at this track in January. The last-named had franked the form with a victory here on Tuesday and Simply The Betts followed suit in game style.

From the second last onwards Simply The Betts and the Cheltenham regular Happy Diva separated themselves from the remainder to do battle. The 100/30 favourite had to fight hard to get the better of Happy Diva but he answered Sheehan’s every call to get home by a length and a quarter.

The former Festival victor Mister Whitaker was another length and three-quarters away in third.

“Andrew, Kate and George Brooks are such great supporters of mine and I’m so happy for them. We’ve run five here this week and inched closer to first place each time so to finally get there is amazing,” declared Whittington who was getting off the mark at this meeting. “Everyone at home has worked really hard all winter and they’ve put so much into this season so I’m very proud of them.”

Nailing

In the immediate aftermath of his second success at this meeting the winning jockey eloquently summed up his feelings and those of his colleagues who find themselves in the happy position of holding the lead at the last at this fixture.

“The fear from jumping the last upsides and then you get a head in front – it’s that fear that you have of something coming and nailing you. That’s the fear you have but, as soon as you pass the line, it’s just what dreams are made of,” remarked Sheehan.