blundered and unseated rider 1st
prominent, pulled hard, led after 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 6th, jumped right and hit 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, weakened 4 out
held up, ridden before 3 out, stayed on from last, never dangerous
prominent, lost place 2nd, behind from 8th
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, ridden after 4 out, stayed on approaching last, never near leaders
in touch, hampered 5th, went second 2 out, took narrow lead before last, driven flat, ran on
held up in rear, headway 2 out, kept on flat, nearest finish
prominent, raced keenly, mistakes 3rd and 4th, 4th when blundered and unseated rider 5th
with leader, led 3rd, soon headed, remained prominent, ridden before 3 out, one pace last
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake next, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, clipped heels and stumbled on approach to 7th, headway when mistake next, hung left after 2 out, soon went right, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 7th, mistake next, soon well behind
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
led to 3rd, remained prominent, regained lead approaching 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly before last, not quicken towards finish
in touch, lost place after 6th, rallied 3 out, mistake 2 out, one pace last
Nonrunner
Tramantano warrants a prominent pitch on the shortlist but softer ground would suit more and so preference is for VALAIN ahead of Kilmackilloge. This looks sure to be fast and frantic with a plethora of front-runners in this big field. Valain is a good traveller who was nibbled at in the betting before his run in the Grand Annual. He was just creeping into contention when he made a bad mistake and he would have finished closer but for that error. It may also be that this quicker ground and flatter track will suit and he can provide Charlie Swan with his first Aintree winner as a trainer. Several of the line-up contested the aforementioned race at Cheltenham in which Oh Crick came home in first ahead of Moon Over Miami (2nd), Tramantano (4th), Poquelin (8th), Pasco (9th), I'm So Lucky (10th) and Lorient Express (12th). Of those contenders Pasco is of most interest as Cheltenham is not his track although he would probably prefer a bit of rain. Lord Henry ran well in this last season to fill third place whilst Leslingtaylor and Bambi D'Lorme clashed at Doncaster last time where the former came out on top but a 4lb pull in the weights and AP McCoy in the saddle will give hope to Bambi's backers. These look ideal conditions for Kilmackilloge who should run well at a big price however it is Valain who can win off bottom-weight.
Lord Henry (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased winner to 7th, last when hit 4 out, stayed on again after 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 7, 8l behind Fiepes Shuffle (11-0) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Marodima (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Raced freely, led after 1st, hit 2nd and 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Master Minded (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Mar.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 20-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, headway approaching 3rd, 2nd before 5th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, still every chance flat, held near finish, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Pasco (SWI) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 9th, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 9th of 18, 28l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
I'm So Lucky 16-1 (10-13) Held up, always in rear, 10th of 18, 32l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Poquelin (FR) 3-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th (water), last 8th, stayed on from last, never in contention, 8th of 18, 18l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Oh Crick (FR) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, hit 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and pressed flat, found extra near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar beating Moon Over Miami (10-9) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 4 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Feb beating Bambi De L'orme (11-1) by 4l, 9 ran.
Lorient Express (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Led, hit 3rd, jumped right 10th, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 12th of 18, well behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Enlightenment (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Led, mistake 3rd, headed 7th, weakened 4 out, stayed poor 3rd, 3rd of 8, 35l behind Jack The Giant (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Held up, led 2 out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Leslingtaylor (11-2) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Feb.
Marcel (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden approaching last, kept on one pace flat, 7th of 10, 7l behind Tom's Toybox (10-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Tramantano 33-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, no extra last, 4th of 18, 12l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Locksmith 16-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 8th of 10, 31l behind I'msingingtheblues (11-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Pulled hard, soon in close 4th, ridden and struggling after 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 34l behind Consigliere (11-10) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, clear 4th, ridden and weakening when headed 3 out, 5th of 7, 42l behind Kew Jumper (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Valain (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway approaching 3 out, 6th when hit 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 18, 18l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Kilmackilloge 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, led 4th, clear from 6th, 5 lengths up when blundered badly 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Norborne Bandit (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
