always handy, challenged before 2 out, 3 lengths 2nd elbow, 3rd and held close home
mid-division, closed 8th, hampered next, mistake 11th, struggling 3 out
mid-division, well beaten from 17th, fell 2 out
soon not going that well in rear, behind when pulled up after 15th (canal turn)
mid-division, not fluent 9th, mistake 17th, tracking leaders before 2 out, not fluent last, disputing 4th from elbow, unable to challenge, stayed on
fell 1st
held up towards rear, headway before 8th, not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, jumped left and bumped 9th, 4 lengths 3rd elbow, stayed on well, led close home
chased leaders, mistake 6th, ridden and struggling 16th
always towards rear
hampered and unseated rider 1st
led until before 4th, led 8th, headed 17th, not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent, led before 4th, headed 8th, led 17th, 3 lengths clear elbow, headed close home
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, disputing 4th elbow, stayed on, unable to challenge
in rear, not much room 1st, some headway 15th, 11th when fell 16th
fell 2nd
mistake in rear until blundered and unseated rider 9th
mid-division, in rear when blundered 11th, not fluent 13th (becher's brook), some headway 17th, 8th and no impression 2 out
prominent, bumped 1st, lost place before 8th, mistake and unseated rider 14th
mistake and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, lost place 7th, not fluent 11th, mistake 15th (canal turn), 7th and no impression 2 out
towards rear, mistake and hampered 1st, blundered 8th, well beaten 4 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
A brilliant renewal of this Grade 3 over the National fences. The Last Samuri was second in the Grand National in April and led for a long way in the Jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on his reappearance. But he is no certainty to confirm running in the big one with sixth Ucello Conti on 11lb worse terms. Alvarado has twice finished fourth in the Grand National and was second in the Scottish National earlier this year. He has been well backed after an encouraging run behind Viconte Du Noyer at Cheltenham. Last year's first and second - Highland Lodge and Dare To Endeavour – are back for more while Saint Are usually goes well here. Portrait King had every chance last year when falling two out and The Young Master won the bet365 Gold Cup in the spring. Vieux Lion Rouge is potentially well treated and Cogry deserves a change of luck while Double Ross ran a superb race in last week's Hennessy Gold Cup, though that may have left its mark. Gas Line Boy was placed in the Kerry National in September and Beeves, One For Arthur and SIZING COAL have already won this season. The latter was also second in last year's Irish National, just half-a-length behind this year's Grand National hero Rule The World, and a repeat of that form should see Jim Dreaper's charge go close today.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led and disputed lead, headed 3rd, pushed along after 11th, ridden and no impression in 4th after 3 out, no extra, 5th of 7, 26 1/2l behind Valseur Lido (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) gd in Nov.
Viconte Du Noyer (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Warrantor (10-0) by 1l, 17 ran.
The Young Master 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, challenged 17th, led narrowly 3 out until next, stayed challenging, stayed on gamely run-in, led again last stride, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Just A Par (11-1) by shd, 20 ran.
Aachen 50-1 (10-10) Prominent, led 3rd to 16th (water), lost place 19th, behind when pulled up before 22nd (2nd bechers), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Ucello Conti (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, 6th halfway, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, no extra, last of 7, 27 1/2l behind Snow Falcon (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Saint Are (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, reminder before 4 out, mistake and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 5, 5 1/2l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened, 12th of 16, dist behind Raz De Maree (10-11) at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway 17th, soon tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 7th of 39, dist behind Rule The World (10-7) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Silvergrove 9-2fav (11-12) Led to 3rd, chased leader, lost place 3 out, soon behind, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 15, dist behind What A Moment (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Midnight Prayer 4-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, soon went 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Three Faces West (11-6) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Ziga Boy (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 13, 17 1/2l behind Valadom (10-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Beeves (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 14th, joined after 4 out, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and stayed pressing leader, rallied to regain narrow lead towards finish, won at Hexham 3m hcp (3) gs in Jun beating Pair Of Jacks (11-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, weakened from 18th, pulled up, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
One For Arthur (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up, mid-division, went before 13th, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Scotswell (10-10) by 6l, 8 ran.
Sizing Coal (IRE) 9-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th early, closer in 2nd at 4th, pushed along to dispute lead at last, ridden and led early run-in, stayed on well, won at Sligo 3m hvy in Sep beating Another Rebel (11-12) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
Alvarado (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 6th of 17, 7 1/2l behind Viconte Du Noyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Milborough (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, chased leaders under pressure 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 4th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Carrigdhoun (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Bob Ford (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, tracked leaders 4th, pushed along 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, rallied flat, went 4th near finish, 4th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Tobefair (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dare To Endeavour 16-1 (10-0) Towards rear, 9th at 7th, progress to 5th before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 20 3/4l behind Tiger Roll (10-6) at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Cogry 7-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, close up when badly hampered by loose horse and brought down 12th, at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Portrait King (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and lost place after 4 out, no impression in 9th after 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 21 1/2l behind The Jazz Singer (11-0) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Financial Climate (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, lost place before 8 out, headway before 5 out, never dangerous, 7th of 17, 33 1/2l behind Achimota (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Double Ross (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led next until 13th, chased leader, led again 17th until ridden and headed approaching the last, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 19, 5 1/2l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Led, mistake and headed 6 out, disputed again before 3 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, under pressure in 4th 2 out where left 3rd, no extra before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 18, 13l behind Wrath Of Titans (9-10) at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
