prominent, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
behind when blundered and unseated rider 7th
behind when blundered 1st, fell 3rd (The Chair)
in touch, mistake and unseated rider 1st
mid-division, headway and hit 7th, mistake 10th (Bechers), weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mistake 7th, slightly hampered 15th, headway after 3 out, ridden to go 2nd approaching elbow, soon hung left, stayed on
in touch, mistake 12th (Canal Turn), soon weakened
mistakes, mid-division, headway approaching 5th, blundered 7th, 8th and weakening when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
towards rear, headway 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway and mistake 10th (Bechers), weakened 13th (Foinavon), behind when hampered 14th
hampered 5th, always behind
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 8th
always behind, tailed off when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
towards rear when brought down 5th
prominent to 2nd, behind when blundered and unseated rider 7th
prominent, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, behind but fell 14th
mid-division, headway 8th, went sharp left and rider lost iron 12th (Canal Turn), led 3 out, ridden after last, ran on
behind from 5th
always towards rear, behind when hampered by loose horse, refused 14th
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, fell 13th (Foinavon)
towards rear, stayed on from 3 out, never nearer
in touch when mistake and unseated rider 1st
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, fell 5th
mistakes, always towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 13th (Foinavon)
keen, led 2nd to 3 out, weakened next
led to 2nd, mistake and lost place 6th, mistake 10th (Bechers), towards rear when fell 14th
held up in rear, headway and hit 12th (Canal Turn), weakened 2 out
The great Grand National fences get an airing for the first time at this meeting in this marvellous contest, and from a shortlist that includes Gun 'n Roses II, Tremallt, Star Jack, Venn Ottery, Never Compromise and Katarino, we will opt for Gun 'n Roses II. In assessing the race, we begin with Cobreces, who beat An Capall Dubh by three-parts of a length at Ludlow last time, and both can go well. Arctic Spirit clearly holds claims based on the best of his Rules form of the last two years, and others that hold obvious claims at this level based on recent official ratings are Cape Stormer, who is blinkered for the first time, Montifault, Star Jack and Tremallt and, even more pertinently, Gun 'n Roses II and Venn Ottery. It would be no surprise to see Gun 'n Roses II, who was third in this race last year and for whom success in the colours of Lady Clarke would be hugely poignant and emotional, go very well, along with Venn Ottery, whose preparation for this race has included runs in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a hunter chase and a novices' hurdle. No doubt, though, he is talented and this looks his sort of trip these days. Katarino, who has won twice recently in points and who was very useful under Rules for Nicky Henderson in 2001 and 2003, is another with a likeable profile and, at a bigger price, the lightly-raced Gatsby, who was fifth in the Fox Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham, could go well, as might Red Rampage, that colour synonymous with many famous victories at Liverpool. The Irish raider Never Compromise is another that gets all due respect, and Star Jack also has a likeable profile for this race. Overall, though, we will side with Gun 'n Roses II.
An Capall Dubh (IRE) 7-2jt-fav Led to 11th, led again 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, led again after last, headed and not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Cobreces at Ludlow 3m 1f hts chs (H) gd in Mar.
Arctic Challenge (IRE) 7-1 Never better than mid-division and pulled up at the last in race won by Sleeping Night at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (H) gd in Feb, 16 ran.
Arctic Times (IRE) 3rd of 5, 8l behind Back On Top at Dromahane 3m opn stk sft in Jan.
Beachcomber Bay (IRE) 5th of 9, 17l behind Ballyfin at Maralin 3m ire ptp gs in Oct.
Cape Stormer (IRE) 4-6fav won at Parham 3m ptp gf in Mar beating Here Comes Henry by 8l, 4 ran.
Cassia Green 4-7fav won at Eyton-On-severn 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Raconteur by 20l, 4 ran.
Caught At Dawn (IRE) 3-1 Prominent, chased winner from 12th, every chance 3 out, soon held, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Yeoman Sailor at Hereford 3m 1f hts chs (H) gs in Mar.
Champagne Native (IRE) 16-1 Held up, ridden 7 out, 3rd next, weakened from 4 out, in rear when pulled up in race won by Forsail at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp chs 0-123 gs in May '03, 12 ran.
Cobreces 9-4fav Always prominent, ridden to lead 3 out, clear approaching last, kept on, won at Ludlow 3m hts chs (H) gs in Mar beating Raiseapearl by 12l, 9 ran.
Coole Abbey (IRE) 11-1 Tracked leaders, led 4th to 6th, hit 8th, blundered 13th, rallied approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Star Jack at Ayr 2m 5f hts chs (H) gs in Mar.
Donnybrook (IRE) 50-1 Mid-division, ridden 13th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Gun'N Roses II at Haydock 2m 6f hts chs (H) gs in Feb.
Epsilo de La Ronce (FR) 9-1 Always towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out, 9th of 16, well behind Hot Plunge at Hereford 2m hts chs (H) gf in Mar.
Gatsby (IRE) 40-1 Behind, kept on from 4 out, never in contention, 5th of 24, 30l behind Sleeping Night at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (B) gd in Mar.
Greco (IRE) 3-1 2nd of 4, 30l behind Sober Performance at Loughrea 3m ptp in Oct.
Guignol du Cochet (FR) 10-1 Always behind, 4th of 7, well behind Montifault at Ludlow 3m hts chs (H) gs in Feb.
Gun'n Roses II (FR) 14-1 With leaders, jumped slowly 1st, led 3rd to 13th, led again 15th, mistake and headed 18th, 5th when fell at the 21th in race won by Spot Thedifference at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (B) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Hot Plunge 5-1 Behind, headway 3rd, led 7th, ridden clear when hit last, ran on, won at Hereford 2m hts chs (H) gf in Mar beating Jazz Night by 7l, 16 ran.
Katarino (FR) 1-2fav won at Paxford 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Well Ted by 25l, 11 ran.
Left To Himself 7-4fav Reared up and unseated rider twice in parade ring.
Mazileo 4-1 Tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed 4 out, soon weakened, no chance when fell at the last in race won by Kilbready Boy at Exeter 3m 1f hts chs (H) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Montifault (FR) 4-6fav Tracked leaders, led briefly 12th, ridden 14th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Kilbready Boy at Warwick 3m hts chs (H) sft in Feb.
Never Compromise (IRE) 8th of 16, well behind General Montcalm at Fairyhouse Ptp 2m 6f hts chs sft in Feb.
No Retreat (NZ) 6-1 won at Eaton Hall 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Curly Spencer by 3l, 8 ran.
Promalee (IRE) 14-1 Mid-division, 8th halfway, weakened from 5 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, 47l behind Never Compromise at Leopardstown 3m hts chs sft in Feb '04.
Red Guard 11-2 Held up and keen, headway 8th, ridden to lead approaching last, edged left flat, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Gadz'art at Leicester 2m 4f hts chs (H) sft in Mar.
Red Rampage 6-1 Made most to 5 out, chased leader, ridden 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 10, 27l behind Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Mar.
Satchmo (IRE) 7-1 Led 3rd, disputed clear lead from 7th, came back to field 4 out, headed when mistake last, weakened flat, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Emperor Ross at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (H) gd in Feb.
Star Jack (FR) 10-1 Led to 4th, led again 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, clear next, won at Ayr 2m 5f hts chs (H) gs in Mar beating Coole Abbey by 3l, 10 ran.
Tremallt (IRE) 2-1 Made all, clear 4 out, ridden next, ran on well, won at Chepstow 3m 2f hts chs (H) gs in Feb beating Lord Beau by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Venn Ottery 7-2 Held up last, headway after 2 out, ridden approaching last, weakened flat, 7th of 14, 20l behind Carthys Cross at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd.
