The Storyteller and Keith Donoghue jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
With a race fitness edge over several of his main rivals, the 2/1 favourite The Storyteller was an emphatic winner of the Irish Daily Star Salutes Our Frontline Heroes Chase (Grade 3).
Keith Donoghue ’s mount jumped right when chasing Tout Est Permis (5/2) at the second last and he went past that one before again jumping markedly right at the last.
He coasted home from there to score by seven and a half lengths from Noel Meade’s grey, with Shattered Love (5/1) a further thirteen lengths away in third.
It was a tenth career victory for the Shantou 9-year-old, a Cheltenham Festival winner over fences in 2018 and runner-up over hurdles in the Pertemps Final at this year’s Festiavl in March.
He picked up a couple of small-field events at Galway in the summer before chasing home Easy Game at Gowran Park earlier this month.
His win completed doubles (after Eskylane in the first) for Donoghue and winning trainer Gordon Elliott who said: “He was getting all the allowances and he was fit but he won well.
“If you go back to the Pertemps Hurdle form he was second and the second horse (Tout Est Permis) was third.
“Keith was good on him. He said he was going to drop him in, take his time and have one go on him.
“He’s a great money-spinner and I wouldn’t mind having a few more like him. He’ll probably go to the north now (for the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal).
“I could see him running over hurdles as well so we’ll mix and match with him.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
