mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, left 3rd when ridden after last, never on terms, no extra in 4th flat
never better than mid-division, behind and struggling 3 out
chased leaders to 6th, mid-division, driven to chase clear leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take 2nd final 120 yards, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden to chase clear leaders 2 out, kept on same pace, never a threat
led 2nd, made rest, went right 13th (valentines), drew clear before last, ridden out flat, stayed on well
prominent, outpaced 2 out, ridden and weakened after last
chased leaders, hit and dropped to mid-division 7th, hampered 3 out, no danger after, weakened next
mid-division, still there when fell 3 out
hampered 1st, always behind
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, hampered 15th, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on into 5th flat, never nearer
in touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
towards rear, blundered 12th (canal turn), stayed on into mid-division before 2 out, never involved
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next
behind, blundered 9th, never able to get involved
mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, chased winner turning in, ridden after last, never able to challenge, lost well held 2nd final 120 yards
hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up before 14th
in touch, fell 1st
held up behind, some headway into mid-division 3 out, never near leaders, weakened from next
mid-division, headway when fell15th
prominent until blundered and unseated rider 12th (canal turn)
never better than mid-division
mistakes, prominent on outside, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next
led to 2nd, close up when mistake and unseated rider 4th (water)
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, disputed 2nd 2 out, still there and going well enough when lost action badly approaching last, quickly pulled up soon after
behind most of way, driven and stayed on past beaten rivals after last, never nearer
never better than mid-division, behind from 11th (foinavon), blundered 15th, never involved
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Nicky Henderson won this three times between 2013 and 2015 and also in 2006. He is mob-handed this year and no-one would begrudge Janika a first win in this country after another fine run behind Siruh Du Lac at Cheltenham, though he’s hardly been helped by a further 6lb rise. Paul Nicholls won this with the French-bred Gwanako in 2008 and ADRIEN DU PONT also has a touch of class. This could be a very profitable day for followers of the champion trainer-elect as his seven-year-old, a strong traveller and normally a safe jumper, should enjoy the slight drop in distance after racing over further this season. Cadmium is an interesting runner for the Mullins yard and another Irish raider, Peregrine Run, could also figure if taking to the big fences. Ross O’Sullivan’s Call It Magic has probably been laid out for this having had a run over the course in the Becher Chase in December, when he finished fourth, and Gordon Elliott’s Woods Well won over the trip at Leopardstown last month. Ballyhill has been in decent form but Forest Des Aigles, fifth in the Grand Sefton here earlier in the season, makes more appeal at the weights.
Janika (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, took closer order when slightly hampered 7th, tracked leaders going well 3 out, effort next, ridden and stayed on to press winner flat, always just held, 2nd of 22, 3/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division on outside, hampered 10th, lost place before 13th, tailed off 17th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Early reminders, pressed winner, driven and lost place after 5 out, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Mar.
San Benedeto (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Mid-division, steady headway before 4 out, chased leaders went 2nd at the last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Gala Ball (10-13) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Cadmium (FR) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, travelling well and led 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Darasso (11-5) at Navan 2m (1) sft in Mar.
O O Seven (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Mid-division on outside, headway 4th, led next, driven and headed 2 out, weakened after last, 12th of 24, 22 1/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 11-2 (11-9) Waited with in rear, headway on outside before 3 out, kept on run-in, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace to get competitive, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Walt (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Peregrine Run (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, 5th halfway, some headway after 3 out and went 2nd travelling well after next, pushed along and slight mistake last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Scarpeta (11-10) at Thurles 2m 7f gd in Mar.
Activial (FR) 40-1 (11-8) Led 2nd to 5th, remained prominent, driven after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 6th of 24, 7 1/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Jumped right, led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly between last 2, 8th of 16, 26 1/2l behind San Benedeto (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Woods Well (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 2nd from 6th, close up and disputed from 8th, led and disputed before 3 out, ridden in lead entering straight, pressed and bad mistake last, rider lost iron, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Mar beating Ask Nile (10-9) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Ballyhill (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in 4th place, went 3rd at 7th, outpaced and no chance with leading pair from 14th, mistake 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 36l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-6) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb.
Bigmartre (FR) 40-1 (11-0) In touch, dropped to mid-division, 9th (water), never able to get involved after, weakened 3 out, 12th of 22, 21 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Flying Angel (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, driven after 4 out, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never reached leaders, 5th of 24, 7l behind Beware The Bear (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leader to 22nd, in touch, lost place 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 8th of 15, dist behind Tiger Roll (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, badly hampered 7th, headway 4 out, driven to chase leaders on outside turning in, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 22, 19 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Polidam (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Soon chased leaders in 4th, slight mistake 5th, 3rd from 10th, not go with front pair from before straight, pecked slightly last and one pace, 3rd of 6, 22 1/2l behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f gd in Mar.
Indian Temple (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Led until 5th, chased winner, upsides 11th, lost 2nd soon after 4 out, rallied disputing well held 2nd last, hung right run-in, went 2nd post, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Mixboy (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Henryville 20-1 (11-11) Close up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Sideways (10-3) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Divine Spear (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear of mid-division, closer on inside chasing leaders approaching 12th, weakened 14th, 11th of 16, 36 1/4l behind Classic Ben (10-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Call It Magic (IRE) 7-4 (10-11) Led, jumped left, jumped badly left at 10th, ridden entering straight, soon strongly pressed, headed before last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Snugsborough Benny (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Feb.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Prominent, hampered and fell 6th (chair), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Equus Secretus (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Led, reminders after 3 out, ridden and joined 2 out, jumped left and headed next, rallied gamely close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Station Master (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m (4) gd in Mar.
More Buck's (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led until 4 out, rallied and every chance next, no extra closing stages, last of 4, 17l behind Cobra De Mai (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Forest Des Aigles (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd 2 out, kept on closing stages, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Charmant (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Beau Bay (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced 7th, rallied 9th, no impression after next, 5th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Adrrastos (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Pressed leader, led after 11th, headed 13th, chased winner, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, well beaten between last 2, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Tommy Silver (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Born Survivor (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led 1st until 2nd, chased leader until before 8th, went 2nd again before 13th until approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 7, 22 3/4l behind Aso (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 100-1 (10-9) Never better than mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind from next, 15th of 22, dist behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Dimple (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Led, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 33 1/2l behind Imperial Aura (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 5f (3) gs in Feb.
