always behind, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, weakened 16th (valentines), behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders on outside, lost place 14th (foinavon), behind when pulled up before 16th
behind, stayed on under pressure into mid-division from 3 out, never near leaders
held up towards rear, headway 15th (canal turn), tracked leading pair before 2 out, ridden to take 2nd approaching elbow, stayed on under pressure final 100 yards, held near finish
prominent, led 8th to 17th, weakend after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, no impression
mid-division, towards rear, 14th (foinavon), weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, mid-division, 5th, chased leaders 15th (canal turn), ridden after 2 out, chased leading pair before elbow, kept on, no impression when lost 2 places towards finish
in touch on outside, lost place 14th (foinavon), behind from 16th (valentines), soon pulled up
behind from 6th (chair), pulled up 4 out
mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 10th
towards rear, mid-division 6th (chair), hampered after 10th, lost place 15th (canal turn), behind when pulled up 3 out
behind, reminder after 5th, late headway into mid-division after 2 out, kept on, never nearer
mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 1st
always prominent, went 2nd 3 out, led after last, driven clear before elbow, ridden and kept on under pressure final 100 yards, held on towards finish
in touch on outside, dropped to mid-division 6th (chair), tracked leaders 12th, led 3 out, clear before next, headed after last, soon ridden, lost place and weakened approaching elbow
tracked leaders when mistake and unseated rider 12th
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division on inside, tracked leaders 17th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next
prominent until lost action and pulled up quickly after 9th
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 17th
in touch, led 3rd to 8th, remained prominent, led again 17th, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, 6th next, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, took 4th post
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, 7th next, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd toward finish, no impression
mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, always towards rear, tailed off
A typically competitive renewal over the Grand National fences. Chance Du Roy bids to repeat last year's victory off a 6lb higher mark but meets third Mr Moonshine on better terms. Across The Bay was only eighth last year but handled the fences with aplomb and could get closer this time around, though jockey bookings would suggest Kruzhlinin is the stable's first choice. Mendip Express is a grand staying type but is closely matched with Alfie Spinner on Cheltenham running last season. Nick Williams' charge keeps knocking on the door, though the long run-in here might not be in his favour as he often flatters to deceive. Balbriggan has won four of his last five under NH Rules and couldn't be in better form while Highland Lodge has always looked an Aintree type. Andrew Thornton will have him up with the pace from the outset and he should give the weighing room's senior citizen a thrilling ride. Oscar Time was fourth in the 2013 Grand National and Burton Port and Shakalakaboomboom are other Aintree regulars while Lion Na Bearnai and Goonyella travel over from Ireland. THE PACKAGE probably didn't get home in the big one here in April but jumped soundly and is now 2lb lower than when third at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He's had a run to blow away the cobwebs and might be a bit of value today.
Al Co (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, tailed off before 4 out, last of 11, well behind On Tour (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up, headway from 9th, went 2nd 3 out until 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 12, 19l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Burton Port (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led until before 3rd, led 4th until 6th, stayed prominent until before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 5, 46l behind Lie Forrit (10-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcap ch (2) gd in Oct.
Mon Parrain (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, pushed along in last when not fluent 12th, tailed off 16th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
Mendip Express (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, headway to lead after 7th, drew clear on bit after 3 out, very easily, won at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating The Tourard Man (10-12) by 14l, 7 ran.
Across The Bay (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Always in rear, ridden and struggling from 6 out, 8th of 9, well behind Howard's Legacy (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Renard (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Led and keen, headed before 3 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind According To Trev (10-11) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Green Flag (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, joined leader 10th, led 12th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 6, 35l behind Many Clouds (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst chs (1) sft in Nov.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Towards rear, hampered 9th (valentines), headway into mid-division 23rd (2nd foinavon), chased leaders 26th, one pace in 5th last, no impression, 6th of 40, 19l behind Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Just A Par (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, in touch 10th, blundered 12th, pushed along and tracking leaders 3 out, no extra before last, 5th of 18, 18l behind Court By Surprise (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Lion Na Bearnai (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, 3rd at 8th, chasing leaders when brought down 3 out, in a race won by Balbriggan (9-12) at Navan 3m hcap ch sft in Nov, 25 ran.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Prominent, joined leader 12th, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Howard's Legacy (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
The Package 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, lost place 12th, rallied 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 49l behind Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 100-1 (10-6) Behind, blundered 25th, soon struggling, never near leaders, 10th of 40, 43l behind Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Goonyella (IRE) 11-8 (10-8) Soon led, joined 3 out, soon headed and dropped to last, pushed along approaching straight, soon no impression, left moderate 2nd at last, stayed on well to close on winner but not getting there close home,, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Plinth (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 6f hdl sft in Nov.
Oscar Time (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) In touch, mistake and unseated rider 15th, in a race won by Charingworth (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Our Father (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division when unseated rider soon after 8th (canal turn), in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Benbens (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 16th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Charingworth (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division on inside, blundered and dropped towards rear 6th (bechers), struggling 17th, pulled up before 20th, in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Led until 6th, led after next, not fluent 10th, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 15, 12l behind Victors Serenade (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Balbriggan (IRE) 4-1fav (9-12) Led and disputed early, led 4th, pressed and jumped left 3 out, jumped left 2 out and mistake, asserted from before last where left again, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 3m hcap ch sft in Nov beating Owega Star (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 25 ran.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 15th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Royale Knight (11-1) at Sedgefield 3m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, close up when jumped right 17th, no impression on winner before last, pressed for 2nd and stayed on same pace, 2nd of 18, 7l behind Court By Surprise (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Saint Are (FR) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, closed after 4th, not fluent 8th or 15th, challenged 18th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and one pace before 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 14, 27l behind Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Master Neo (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Led until 3rd, led 7th until 14th, led 15th, headed next, led again 18th until 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 14, 39l behind Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
