held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd before elbow, led final 200 yards, stayed on
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, driven after 2 out, 5th and beaten last, plugged on
held up in rear, headway 6th, 6th and weakening 2 out
held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, struggling 9th, behind 5 out
in rear, reminder after 1st, headway on inside when fell 6th
tracked leader until 5th, blundered badly and weakened 11th (foinavon), pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 1st, lost place 4th, mistake 5 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake next (chair), went 2nd 5th, not fluent 12th (canal turn), stumbled badly 3 out and lost 2nd, 3rd and kept on from elbow
held up in rear, headway 10th (bechers), went 2nd 3 out until before elbow and hanging badly left, plugged on
led, ridden before 2 out, stayed on, headed final 200 yards, held towards finsi9h
towards rear, pushed along 5th, blundered 4 out, stayed on from last, went 4th towards finish
Jumping, as always, will be paramount over the National fences but most of these have claims if completing. Warriors Tale was pulled up in the Grand National in April but will strip fitter for his fourth on the Mildmay course here four weeks ago and bids to give Paul Nicholls a third win in this in six years. Shanahan’s Turn is only a pound higher than when second to stablemate Ultragold in the Topham over these fences in April when Kilcrea Vale was fourth. That course experience is a plus and he shouldn’t be far away but FOREST DES AIGLES (NAP) has a terrific strike-rate over fences and had the proverbial ton in hand on his reappearance at Ayr - he’s still on an upward curve and on a decent mark. Crievehill rarely runs bad race and Captain Redbeard may appreciate this drop in distance and beat recent Wetherby winner Catamaran Du Seuil at Haydock a year ago on these terms. Brandon Hill is a bold jumper but the long run from the final fence would be a worry for this weak finisher.
Warriors Tale 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, lost place 10th, well beaten after 12th, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th last, 4th of 11, 27 3/4l behind War Sound (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Crievehill (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, close up 4th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, always held, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Javert (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders lost place 9th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 7th of 8, 20l behind Frodon (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Captain Redbeard (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) In touch, mistake 1st, hampered 10th, hampered and left in 3rd at 13th, every chance from 3 out, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Vintage Clouds (11-11) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led going well 3 out, came clear between last 2, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Cracking Find (11-2) by 8l, 6 ran.
More Buck's (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Mr Medic (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Shanahan's Turn (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Led to 3rd, pressed leader, lost place 7th, behind and struggling 4 out, weakened after next, last of 7, 33 3/4l behind Bun Doran (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders to 7th, soon behind, 9th 2 out, soon ridden, rallied after last, stayed on into 4th after elbow, not pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 27, 17 3/4l behind Ultragold (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Forest Des Aigles (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, soon last, closed when mistake 4 out, led last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Monbeg River (11-6) by 3l, 6 ran.
Brandon Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Led, driven and headed before 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, dist behind Exitas (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Tiquer (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Raced wide, tracked leading pair, jumped slowly 9th, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Wadswick Court (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
