behind most of way, weakened and pulled up before 16th
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and one pace after last, weakened approaching elbow
hampered 1st, soon mid-division, headway to track leaders 12th (canal turn), weakened bypassing omitted 2 out, pulled up after last
tracked leaders, left disputing 2nd 12th (canal turn), left in lead 14th, driven and headed before last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat
in touch early, behind from 9th, carried wide 12th (canal turn), no danger after
mid-divsision, fell 2nd
always towards rear, carried wide 12th (canal turn), weakened and pulled up before 15th
mid-division, hampered 3rd (chair), chased leaders 15th, ridden and one pace before last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, left disputing 2nd from 12th (canal turn), led before last, ridden and headed approaching elbow, no extra and lost 2 places near finish
fell 1st
mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, in touch when fell 12th (canal turn)
in touch, dropped to mid-division 8th, driven to chase leaders after 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden after last, weakened flat
mid-division on outside, hampered 15th, soon outpaced, never near leaders
in touch, fell 3rd (chair)
held up behind, hampered 2nd, headway 16th, ridden and kept on from last, not reach leaders
mid-division, outpaced 16th, never near leaders
always prominent, joined leader after 16th, ridden to lead approaching elbow, kept on well
mid-division, headway 12th (canal turn), ridden and outpaced in 4th before omitted 2 out, lost place last, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, badly hampered and lost place 12th (canal turn), soon behind, no danger after, tailed off
mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, mistake and lost place 10th (bechers), mid-division when fell 15th
mid-division, chased leaders 15th, ridden and outpaced bypassing omitted 2 out, weakened after last
in touch, headway after 16th, driven to chase leaders before last, chased winner and every chance approaching elbow, kept on, held closing stages
with leader until blundered and unseated rider 12th (canal turn)
led until fell 14th
in touch, lost place 10th (bechers), mid-division when badly hampered and unseated rider 12th (canal turn)
towards rear, some headway before last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, never nearer
hampered 1st, behind, fell 6th
held up behind, headway after 16th, ridden after last, finished well to snatch 3rd near finish, not trouble front pair
mid-division, chased leaders 14th, ridden and one pace before last, kept on under pressure approaching elbow, not reach leaders
NonRunner
Eastlake has 10lb more to carry than when successful in this last year but he has a touch of class when in the mood and these big fences could spark his interest again. Stablemate Go Conquer is also fancied to run well given he likes to race up with the pace and stays further than this. Gold Present ran well in a novices’ handicap at Cheltenham but may lack the experience for a race like this. Leopardstown winner Mr Diablo is worth considering, however, and Bright New Dawn did best of a number of these who ran in the Grand Annual at The Festival. AS DE MEE handled these fences with aplomb in the Grand Sefton in December and was always holding runner-up Seefood and third Henryville. Despite worse terms, Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old is fancied to confirm that form and shouldn’t be far away again if getting luck in-running. He’s preferred to stablemate Bouvreuil and O O Seven, whose jumping is a concern, but Ballykan could go well at a price.
Alelchi Inois (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up after last, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Mar.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Not always fluent, mid-division on inside, lost place 4th, mistake 11th, behind 13th, pulled up before 17th, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
Eastlake (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, one pace last, weakened flat, 10th of 24, 13 1/4l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
O O Seven (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 11th, in touch when 15th, 5th and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, dist behind Might Bite (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Clarcam (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Badly hampered 1st, behind, some headway before 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never near leaders, 9th of 23, 32 1/2l behind Un Temps Pour Tout (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Third Intention (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 21st, behind from 3 out, 8th of 16, 29l behind Cause Of Causes (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Mar.
Quite By Chance 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hit 5 out, outpaced after 3 out, never on terms, 13th of 24, 28 3/4l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Bouvreuil (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, in touch 10th, went 3rd before last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 24, 7 3/4l behind Road To Respect (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
As De Mee (FR) 7-4 (11-6) Led until after 4th, led next, driven after 2 out, joined last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Kilcrea Vale (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 1f (2) sft in Feb.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, disputed lead before 3 out, every chance next, lost place between last 2, well held after, 7th of 24, 10l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Gold Present (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, effort to challenge when left disputing lead 2 out, every chance last, soon ridden, one pace and held flat, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Tully East (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Mr Diablo (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leader, improved to dispute before 4th, led after 4th, ridden and asserted approaching last, kept on strongly run-in, eased close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Emcon (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Thomas Brown 8-1 (10-9) Prominent, on outside, not fluent 7th, lost place before next, effort 11th, mistake 13th, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Ballykan 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 24, 15l behind Road To Respect (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Henryville 12-1 (10-9) Held up behind, hampered 10th, some headway 3 out, never near leaders, 9th of 24, 24 1/2l behind Road To Respect (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 6th, headed 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Ultragold (FR) 100-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and lost place, well held after, 9th of 24, 12 1/4l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Vintage Vinnie (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, tracking leaders 3 out, no extra 2 out, 8th of 17, dist behind As De Mee (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Go Conquer (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) With leader, led 15th, hard pressed after 3 out, driven and headed approaching last, ridden and no extra flat, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 23, 11 1/4l behind Un Temps Pour Tout (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Seefood (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on inside, every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Bryden Boy (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Solar Impulse (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Went prominent on outside 4th, ridden when lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 16th of 24, 31 3/4l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Katnap (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Close up and disputed lead, led approaching 5th and soon went on, slight mistake 2 out, joined at last, soon headed and no extra, one pace, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind The Paparrazi Kid (11-9) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Katachenko (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, weakened from next, 10th of 24, 24 1/2l behind Road To Respect (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Imjoeking (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Made all, ridden run-in, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Pistol Park (11-13) by 8l, 3 ran.
Gowanauthat (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Jumped right, led, slow 2nd and 8th, headed after 3 out, badly hampered next, soon no extra, weakened last, 3rd of 4, 15 1/2l behind Antony (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Father Edward (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place and towards rear when hampered 9th, no danger after, 14th of 24, 28 3/4l behind Domesday Book (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Long Lunch 14-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway to join leader 5th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Max Ward (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Portrait King (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, hit 14th, some headway 20th, no impression, well held from 4 out, 8th of 20, 22 3/4l behind Chase The Spud (10-12) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Thomond (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 5th at 4th, moderate 4th before straight, kept on well without threatening winner run-in, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Katnap (11-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Jan.
Peckhamecho (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on outer, switched inside approaching 9th, went 2nd 5 out, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, ridden out flat, held on towards finish, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Yanmare (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.