prominent early, chased leaders, lost place before 13th, tailed off 12th 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, closed 13th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 15th (canal turn), 6th 3 out, well beaten next
reluctant to leave start, held up towards rear, headway 10th, chasing leaders when fell next
chased leaders, slow and lost a few places 3rd, remote 10th 3 out, well beaten from next
prominent, led 6th, headed after next, 5th 3 out, weakened next
led until after 1st, chased leaders, 3rd 3 out, disputing 2nd 100 yards out, no impression on winner, kept on
very slowly away, behind, headway when not fluent 4th, led before 8th, mistake 12th, headed 17th, hampered next, beaten and one pace from last
towards rear, closed 4th, lost place 8th, not fluent 14th (foinavon), remote 11th 3 out, progress into 6th last, stayed on from last, went 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner
mid-division, hampered 6th, remote 9th 3 out, well beaten next
chased leaders, not fluent 10th, blundered and lost place 18th, 8th 3 out, well held next
towards rear, mistake 10th, blundered and unseated rider 14th (foinavon)
chased leaders, not fluent 11th or 14th, 7th 3 out, closed to take 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led before elbow, soon clear, ridden out
led after 1st, prominent, jumped left and headed 6th, led after next, headed before 8th, led 17th, went left next, clear between 3 out and 2 out, headed before elbow, lost 2nd 100 yards out
prominent, hampered and fell 6th (chair)
fell 2nd
towards rear on outside, mistakes, well beaten 17th, pulled up before next
mid-division on inside, hampered 6th, headway on inside 12th, 4th 3 out, one pace before elbow
hampered start, behind, hampered 2nd, tailed off 13th 3 out
Highland Lodge beat Dare To Endeavour in this in 2015 and was second to Vieux Lion Rouge a year later. Third behind Blaklion 12 months ago, Jimmy Moffatt’s 12-year-old has been aimed at the race again and has each-way claims. Blaklion and Vieux Lion Rouge are also back for more and the former’s trainer also runs Ballyoptic, who was highly tried in his first season over fences but did win twice and was just beaten in the Scottish National in the spring. Present Man won the Badger Beer at Wincanton last month for the second year running while Ultragold has won the last two runnings of the Topham over the National fences and was second in the Grand Sefton on this card a year ago, though this may stretch his stamina. Walk In The Mill is probably also better over shorter trips but Missed Approach is a through stayer and Don Poli is a former Grade 1 winner, though returning from a lengthy absence. Conditions could become desperate if more rain arrives and that would suit REGAL FLOW, who should be approaching his best after a couple of pipe-openers. He won the Midlands National last season and is a sound jumper who should go well under James Bowen at a working man’s price.
Don Poli (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Close up, on terms from 4th, slight lead 11th, pressed from before straight, headed at last, dropped to 3rd and kept on without matching 1st 2 close home, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Blaklion 6-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up, closed gradually from 20th, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, challenged towards finish, just denied, 2nd of 29, shd behind Joe Farrell (10-6) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, dropped to moderate 9th approaching straight and no impression, one pace, 6th of 28, 18 3/4l behind Our Duke (11-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Present Man (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-12) Jumped well, led until 5th, chased leader, led again 12th until 15th, led again 3 out, stayed on gamely, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov beating Sumkindofking (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Ultragold (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Led until after 7th, lost 2nd after 2 out, 4th and weakening from last, 4th of 6, 26 1/4l behind Dinons (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Oct.
Missed Approach (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led until after 2nd, led again before next, headed 6th, chased leaders, hit 17th, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, badly hampered 8th (canal turn), soon behind, no danger after, 9th of 38, dist behind Tiger Roll (10-13) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Just A Par (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Always behind, ridden after 4 out, tailed off from next, 11th of 13, dist behind Henllan Harri (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Crosshue Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) In touch, dropped to 9th after 7th, pushed along in 7th after 2 out, soon ridden, weakened run-in, 12th of 19, 23 3/4l behind Suinda (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Regal Flow 40-1 (11-5) Close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 12, 19 3/4l behind Yala Enki (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake and dropped towards rear 8th, struggling 15th, ridden after 3 out, left modest 4th 2 out, stayed on into 3rd after last, no chance with clear pair, 3rd of 11, 22l behind The Young Master (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Call It Magic (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division early, towards rear from 8th, no impression 5 out, 10th of 18, dist behind Snow Falcon (11-5) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, towards rear 6th, tailed off before 10th, pulled up, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Fine Theatre (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leader, dropped to 11th after 7th, no impression after 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 9th of 19, 16l behind Suinda (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Mustmeetalady (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 11th of 17, dist behind Minellacelebration (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gd in May.
Federici 66-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place and reminders after 24th, soon behind and no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Dare To Endeavour 33-1 (10-11) Raced in 3rd, well off pace of leading pair by 4th, remote 3rd halfway, ridden before 3 out, joined for remote 3rd 2 out, dropped to 4th inside final furlong, last of 4, dist behind Tell Me Annie (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f gd in Nov.
