not always fluent in rear, fell 8th
held up, not fluent 2nd, headway next, challenged last, driven 2 lengths ahead after elbow, all out
tracked leaders, not fluent 12th (canal turn), weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, mid-division when mistake 5th, headway approaching 10th (bechers brook), struggling when jumped left and hampered 5 out, tailed off
led until 8th, led next, not fluent 11th (foinavon), outjumped and headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway when bumped 5 out, close 4th when not fluent last, no impression before elbow, stayed on and went 3rd inside final 200 yards
mid-division, mistake and lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 10th (bechers brook)
prominent until ridden after 10th (bechers brook), well beaten after 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, hampered 8th, blundered next, not fluent 11th (foinavon), well behing when pulled up before 2 out
prominent until 3rd, chased leaders, struggling 11th (foinavon)
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th (foinavon), led after 3 out, headed last, no extra and dropped to 4th inside final 200 yards
mid-division, towards rear when hit 10th (bechers brook), fell heavily 4 out
with leader, led 8th until 9th, led 3 out, soon headed, every chance last, 2 lengths down after elbow, closed towards finish, just held
tracked leaders until fell 8th
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 9th, chased leaders before 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders, jumped slowly 2nd, lost place 5th, behind when hit 9th, well beaten after
It can be an advantage to race up with the pace over shorter trips on the National course but there are a few front-runners in this and they may be tempted to take each other on. Toby Lerone arrives in form after a couple of wins in minor company and he made all at Lingfield last month. Rebel Rebellion also likes to be prominent, as do Dunowen Point and Poole Master though the latter pair have been off the track since the spring. Forgotten Gold's jumping has to be a worry around here though he would probably have finished ahead of Current Event at Fakehnam on his reappearance had he not blundered at the last. Midnight Appeal and Plein Pouvoir were successful at Bangor and Wincanton respectively last month and You Must Know Me has shown promise, though is still awaiting a first victory over fences. GANSEY hasn't won since 2011 but was beaten less than two lengths by Little Josh in this last year off a 4lb higher mark. He could be worth a punt after a pipe-opener on the Mildmay course here in October. Shangani and Frontier Spirit look best of the rest.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 25-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place after 8th, blundered and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Sydney Paget (10-13) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led 2nd until 4th, lost place 8th, not fluent 14th, outpaced 4 out, modest 4th before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 14l behind Kapga De Cerisy (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Current Event (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway 13th, hampered 3 out, left 3rd at last, driven and stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Wiesentraum (11-0) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Midnight Appeal 25-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 12th, clear before last, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Nov beating Loch Ba (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dunowen Point (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) With leader, led 4th (water), ridden after 2 out, headed after last, lost 2nd at elbow, no extra in 4th towards finish, 4th of 29, 9l behind Triolo D'Alene (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
You Must Know Me (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, close up and challenged 4 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra in 5th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 18, 19l behind Road To Riches (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f beg chs in Nov.
Shangani (USA) 9-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Fago (11-7) at Haydock 2m 1f chs (2) sft in Nov.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 7th, awkward 4th, pressed last when landed awkwardly and unseated last, in a race won by Wiesentraum (11-0) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Frontier Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up behind, pecked badly 3rd, effort before 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 19l behind Ultimate (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Poole Master 16-1 (10-13) Pressed leader, led 6th, headed next, not fluent 8th, every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 14, 16l behind Fairy Rath (10-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Gansey (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Held up, headway 3rd, went 2nd when not fluent 10th, hit 4 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened, 5th of 7, 38l behind Rossini's Dancer (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up behind, headway when left 3rd at 8th, led 11th, made rest, drew clear from 3 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov beating Be Definite (11-5) by 6l, 8 ran.
Your Busy (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place when hit 15th, no impression after, weakened before last, 6th of 7, 16l behind Jamsie Hall (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Toby Lerone (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Made all, jumped right, not fluent 2 out or last, driven out, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov beating Howard's Legacy (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up in rear and raced wide, headway before 5th, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Simply Ned (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Sergeant Pink (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Behind, pushed along before 9th, weakened before 5 out, 7th of 12, 20l behind Ultimate (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
