Fry's delight as stable stalwart Unowhatimeanharry lands Stayers

It feels like a lifetime ago since Unowhatimeanharry joined Harry Fry as a disappointing 123-rated hurdler who had gone a dozen starts without success following his Fontwell bumper win on his debut for Helen Nelmes.

In fact it was almost four years ago, the summer of 2015, and his form figures at the time read 143335334237P.

Unowhatimeanharry and Mark Walsh win the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Since then Fry has managed to transform him into one of the top staying hurdlers of the past decade and his second victory in this race saw his career earnings crash through the three-quarters-of-a-million barrier. The latest of his 13 wins was perhaps the sweetest.

At the age of 11 and seemingly set for retirement, Unowhatimeanharry rolled back the years to win his fourth Grade 1 in typically determined fashion.

Fry, usually so subdued, did an uncanny impression of Jurgen Klopp in the final 100 yards of the race, fist pumping over and over and over again. And why shouldn't he? This was a remarkable training performance.

"We weren't expecting that," admitted Fry afterwards. "We were coming totally in hope rather than expectation. We were coming over with a lorryload and JP [McManus] didn't have any other runners in the race, so we said we'd let him take his chance as he was on his way to Martinstown for the summer anyway."

The trainer added: "He has come alive and I'm absolutely over the moon. He's been a brilliant horse for us. Like all of us, he's getting older and this was a big surprise.

"He's an old favourite and helped put us on the map. He means an awful lot to us and there was a chance that if today's race didn't go well it could have been his last, so we'll enjoy this and cherish it."

Delighted connections in the winner's enclosure with Unowhatimeanharry after the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

So is the retirement plan knocked on the head?

Vision Des Flos might have had a big say in the outcome had he not crashed into the last and almost unshipped Tom Scudamore. Not Many Left and Robbie Power did part company at the last. Long-time leader Killultagh Vic fared best of the rest in fourth.

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