mid-division, headway 13th, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up after 11th
mid-division, ridden after 11th, weakened 13th
mid-division, pushed along after 11th, weakening when fell 15th
in touch, hit 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led 2nd to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 12th, soon weakened, behind when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 12th, pushed along 14th, weakening when hit 3 out
mistakes, always behind, hampered 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 6th to 13th, weakened after 4 out
held up headway 9th, mistake 13th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
behind, effort 13th, weakened 4 out
behind, hampered 15th, stayed on from 3 out, never nearer
mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led to 2nd, in touch, ridden and mistake 13th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, hit 14th and 15th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, no chance when jumped right 2 out, virtually pulled up flat
always towards rear
prominent, led 3rd to 6th, led again 13th, cleared last, eased flat
held up and mistakes, behind when pulled up before 15th
Mckelvey is a tentative pick in another hard one to call, with Lacdoudal, Joaaci, Model Son and Fair Prospect all likely to have their supporters. Peter Bowen has always had a high opinion of Mckelvey, whom many see as a future Grand National prospect, and now that the stable is coming back to form, hopes are high that he can start to fulfil his potential. The seven-year-old was pulled up in the Welsh National and was never going well when a remote third at Wetherby on his last start in January, but it must be remembered that he beat Jungle Jinks by 11 lengths at the Yorkshire track and off 10st 5lb here can begin to make up for lost time. Lacdoudal is the class act in the race and lines up on the back of a fine second to Fondmorte in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, but he is weighted accordingly and does not seem as effective on a sharper flat track. Joaaci has been given time to recover after falling in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock in February and could go well, but he has been hammered by the handicapper over the past 12 months and needs some respite. Model Son got round to finish second in the aforementioned Haydock contest and is adaptable regarding ground conditions, but has yet to score since leaving Heather Dalton. Fair Prospect defied a 683-day absence when scoring over shorter in Class 3 company here in October and has had another break since. He needs to step up a gear but could easily get involved off his low weight. Many in with chances then, but we fancy Mckelvey to go close at a decent price.
Lacdoudal (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, slightly outpaced after 11th, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Fondmort (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Joaaci (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, left 4th when fell at the last in race won by Ossmoses (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Tikram 100-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway 13th, mistake 16th and 17th, ridden next, slightly hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 22, 36l behind War Of Attrition (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Limerick Boy (GER) 150-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by War Of Attrition (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Hit 1st, led to 2nd, pressed leader, led 6th until 9th, weakened after next, well behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Mar.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Prominent until lost place approaching 13th, no danger after, 9th of 24, 26l behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Seebald (GER) 100-1 (11-9) In touch, hit 10th, outpaced 15th, rallied approaching last, one pace flat, 9th of 21, 15l behind Dun Doire (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Dark'n Sharp (GER) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, jumped slowly 4th and 8th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Chauvinist (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 24, 20l behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Model Son (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 13th, rallied after 2 out, edged left approaching last, kept on, 4th of 21, 5l behind Dun Doire (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ardaghey (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hit 9th, headway and disputing 3 lengths 3rd when fell 3 out in race won by Hot Weld (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m 1f nov amt chs (2) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Aristoxene (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, badly hampered after 1st, blundered badly 7th, blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Mckelvey (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, pushed along until closer order while not fluent 10th, struggling from 5 out, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Jungle Jinks (10-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Mount Clerigo (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) With leaders, led 11th, hit next, ridden 2 out, headed and weakened flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Simon (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Mar.
Whitenzo (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden from 13th, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 23l behind Yardbird (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
East Tycoon (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 13th, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 24, 18l behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
State of Play 20-1 (11-7) Always last, struggling from 16th, soon tailed off, last of 5, well behind Darkness (11-7) at Sandown 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Dec.
Fair Prospect 7-2 (11-12) Held up, hit 11th, headway to chase leaders 5 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, blundered last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Oct beating Soeur Fontenail (10-8) by 7l, 10 ran.
