mid-division, bad mistake 6th (Chair), unseated rider in close 5th after 15th (Canal Turn)
front mid-division, gradually lost place and ridden and weakened 4 out, soon pulled up
front mid-division, ridden 6 out, gradually faded from 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and lost touch from 14th, tailed off
towards rear, slow jump 13th (Bechers), tailed off back straight, pulled up
led, headed 7th (Water), remained close up, fell 12th
mid-division, stayed on from 3 out, ridden before 2 out, never near to challenge
mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 12th
bad mistake and nearly fell 1st, in rear, unseated rider 6th (Chair)
prominent, fell 6th (Chair)
handy, went 2nd 16th (Valentines), ridden and no extra after 3 out, kept on one pace
close up, jumped well and travelled strongly throughout, led 7th (Water), ridden after 2 out, stayed on stoutly, pressed close home, just held on, gamely (hand time)
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, mistake 7th (Water), tailed off 14th
mid-division, went 7th 5 out, ridden after 3 out, no impression
towards rear, effort and headway into mid-division 11th, went into 7th 15th (Canal Turn), mistake 5 out, ridden in 5th after 3 out, stayed on but not pace to challenge front pair
front mid-division, mistake 4th, bad mistake 12th, lost touch from 4 out, pulled up
towards rear, mid-division 8th, went 2nd 3 out going ok, ridden after last, kept on well to strongly press leader close home, just denied
prominent, mistake 9th, badly hampered by faller 12th and unseated rider
towards rear, never on terms, pulled up
unseated rider 2nd in rear
Vieux Lion Rouge seeks a third victory in this Grade 3 run over the National fences having got the better of Kimberlite Candy 12 months ago. Snow Falcon has the class to figure if handling this jumping test and Noel Meade’s charge looks the pick of the Irish runners at the weights. Achille may well reverse Haydock running in February with Lord Du Mesnil as the going is unlikely to be testing enough for Richard Hobson’s stayer. SNOW LEOPARDESS did well last season and took a further step forward when beating a decent field on her reappearance at Bangor. Aidan Coleman keeps the partnership intact and Charlie Longsdon’s galloping grey can defy a further 5lb rise. Mac Tottie won the Grand Sefton over these fences last month but will be entering unknown territory over this 3m2f and Ascot runner-up Checkitout has been found wanting beyond 3m in the past. Mighty Thunder stays a lot further, however, and will be staying on if taking to these fences.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, headway 21st, disputing 2nd when mistake 25th (valentines 2nd time), disputing 5th when blundered and unseated rider 27th (4 out), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 60-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, made mistakes, unseated rider 10th, at Auteuil 3m 6f hvy in May.
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, hampered 4th and 20th, struggling 21st, behind 26th, pulled up before 29th (2 out), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden in 6th 3 out, soon no impression on leaders, 5th of 16, 15 3/4l behind Run Wild Fred (11-6) at Navan 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Ravenhill (IRE) 125-1 (11-12) Soon detached in rear, never a factor, completely tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Frodon (11-12) at Down Royal 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, headed and tracked leader 3rd, gradually faded from 10th, struggling from 5 out, tailed, 5th of 7, dist behind Fusil Raffles (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Always behind, well beaten from 15th, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, not fluent 8th, mistake 4 out, soon well held, kept on flat, 7th of 10, 18 1/2l behind Some Chaos (11-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Pushed along briefly early, soon mid-division, disputed 8th after 10th, 7th into straight, kept on without matching principals from 2 out, 7th of 18, 8 1/4l behind Assemble (11-3) at Listowel 3m hcp gd in Sep.
Mac Tottie 20-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, edged right after elbow, stayed on, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Senior Citizen (11-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Achille (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, stayed on from 3 out, nearest finish, 6th of 20, 6 3/4l behind Time To Get Up (10-10) at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Snow Leopardess 5-1jfav (11-0) Prominent, led 9th, headed 11th, led again 13th, ridden clear approaching last, ran on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Windsor Avenue (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Didero Vallis (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Off the pace and always towards rear, 6th of 14, dist behind Larry (10-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Hogan's Height (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, never going pace to get on terms from 12th (canal turn), 9th at the last, went modest 6th before the elbow, 6th of 13, 33 1/2l behind Mac Tottie (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Cobolobo (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 12th, struggling 15th, pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Checkitout (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Prominent in chasing group, ridden in 2nd between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 6 1/2l behind Larry (10-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Le Breuil (FR) 15-2 (11-9) Raced handy, ridden 6 out, losing place and dropped to last 4 out, plugged on, 6th of 8, 35 1/2l behind Salty Boy (10-9) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Hill Sixteen 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on one pace, 6th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Hold That Taught (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Via Dolorosa (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Prominent, mistake 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd last, kept on, faded into 4th towards finish, 4th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Mac Tottie (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Abaya Du Mathan (FR) 2-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, headway from 4 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Sententza (10-12) at Moulins 2m 3f sft in Oct.
El Paso Wood (FR) (10-12) won at Castera Verduzan 2m 3f hvy in Sep beating Guena Des Mottes (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Mighty Thunder 66-1 (11-4) Towards rear, dropped to last after 10th, left in remote fifth 3 out, plugged on one pace, 4th of 7, 28 1/4l behind Fusil Raffles (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct.
