A tale of what might have been for plucky runner-up

Emotions were running high in the Lil Rockerfeller camp after the durable five-year-old again showed tenacity to chase home favourite Unowhatimeanharry in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle.

While pleased with a “career-best performance” trainer Neil King could not hide his disappointment and there was a palpable sense that he felt this might have been the one that got away.

“He’s a very lazy horse who takes a lot of knowing and I really feel for Trevor Whelan that he wasn’t here to ride him today,” said King, who had to draft in Noel Fehily for the ride with his stable jockey on the sidelines through suspension.