tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, left 2nd 15th (canal turn) until 17th, weakened 2 out, lost 3rd approaching last
mid-division on outside, mistake 1st, left 5th 13th (bechers brook), chased winner 3 out, no impression last, weakened flat
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, hampered 11th, mistake 13th (bechers brook), 7th and ridden 4 out, no impression, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, not fluent next, hit 10th, stayed on after 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, no impression and soon weakened, demoted to 4th close home
held up towards rear, headway 10th, went 2nd 17th, led 3 out, clear last, stayed on well
mid-division, 6th when fell 11th
made most until hit 15th (canat turn) and unseated rider
prominent, hit 10th, left in lead 15th (canal turn), headed when hit 3 out, weakened before next where mistake, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, mistakes 1st and mistake 7th (water), hit 9th, 6th when fell 13th (bechers brook)
in rear, behind 6th (the chair), pulled up before next
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, 4th when fell 13th (bechers brook)
chased leaders, not much room when mistake 1st, lost place 3rd, behind 8th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent early, chased leaders, lost place 10th, well held after, plugged on to take remote 3rd close home
Nonrunner
Dessie Hughes has saddled two of the last three winners of this Listed handicap over the Grand National fences so Rare Bob's claims have to be taken seriously as a recent run at Down Royal should have blown away a few cobwebs. Ireland are also represented by the progressive young stayer Another Palm, who was runner-up in the Cork National last month. Niche Market was fifth in last season's Grand National, while Always Waining has twice won the Topham Chase over these fences and won't be far away if his stamina holds out. West End Rocker and Nicto De Beauchene would also go close on their best form but we'll stick with the veteran HELLO BUD. Successful 12 months ago, the 13-year-old is only 3lb higher this time around and ran well for a long way on his reappearance at Wincanton. He should avoid any problems out in front and could take all the beating again.
Rare Bob (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders in 5th, 6th at 9th, dropped off 7 out, soon no impression and trailing, completely tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Quito De La Roque (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs (1) sft in Nov.
Niche Market (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Behind, mistake 4th, struggling 13th, never involved, 9th of 17, 33l behind Exmoor Ranger (10-10) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Oct.
Swing Bill (FR) 7-2fav (12-1) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 11th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Prophete De Guye (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Always Waining (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Towards rear, behind 5th, soon ridden along, some headway 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 9, 21l behind Palace Jester (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
West End Rocker (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway when blundered 14th, reminders and lost place when mistake next, behind 18th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Galaxy Rock (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Merchent Paddy (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, no extra approaching straight, 7th of 8, 25l behind Double Seven (11-6) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Hello Bud (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) With leader, led narrowly 10th to 16th, lost place next, no impression from 4 out, 5th of 13, 30l behind The Minack (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Always prominent, led 2nd to 8th, led again 11th, driven 3 out, headed before next, ridden between last 2, kept on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Mohi Rahrere (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Abbeybraney (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, mistake 17th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Poker De Sivola (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar '10, 18 ran.
Max Bygraves 7-2 (10-6) Always prominent, led 12th, ridden clear between last 2, eased towards finish, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Kikos (10-8) by 17l, 5 ran.
Shalimar Fromentro (FR) (10-10) Prominent, led 5 out, jumped slowly when pressed 2 out, headed before last, ran on well to lead run-in, drifted right, ran on, finished 1st, disqualified and placed 2nd, in a race won by Saint Tiep (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 5f chs gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Another Palm (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Always prominent, on terms before straight, led 3 out, narrowly headed last, on terms again and every chance run-in, kept on same pace and headed close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind The Bishop Looney (10-12) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-150 sft in Nov.
Pak Jack (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up behind leading quartett, lost place 8th, slow and behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Hold On Julio (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders to 6th, behind and struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out, in a race won by Cappa Bleu (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Mad Max (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Led to 10th, led again 5 out, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 17l behind Master Minded (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Apr.
