in touch, brought down 3rd (Chair)
in touch, lost place 9th, headway under pressure after 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 10th (Bechers), pushed along approaching 2 out, effort approaching last, one paced flat
towards rear, fell 9th
towards rear, headway 15th, effort approaching 2 out, no extra under pressure
refused to race, took no part
mid-division, headway to lead 10th (Bechers), headed approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last
towards rear, hampered 3rd (Chair), never dangerous
towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 3rd (Chair)
chased leaders to 10th (Bechers), no danger after
raced wide towards rear, headway after 10th (Bechers), pushed along 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
towards rear, headway and in touch 10th (Bechers), blundered and unseated rider 13th (Valentines)
in touch, headway and effort approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner until no extra flat
unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, lost place after 12th (Canal Turn), outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat
tracked leaders, fell 3rd (Chair)
prominent, led 2nd, headed 10th (Bechers), remained prominent until weakened 3 out
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
towards rear, outpaced when hampered 10th (Bechers)
mid-division fell 3rd (Chair)
towards rear when mistake and unseated rider 10th (Bechers)
mid-division, blundered badly and unseated rider 7th
in touch, brought down 3rd (Chair)
mid-division, headway 9th and in touch, pecked 10th (Bechers), weakened 3 out
led to 2nd, remained close up, pushed along 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly
mid-division, headway 11th to chase leaders, effort approaching 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, kept on
mid-division, fell 9th
towards rear, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Briery Fox can master the National fences to land the Topham, with Irish Raptor, Brooklyn Breeze, Risk Accessor and Le Volfoni just a few more in with a shout. A degree of luck is needed here in such a big field, but providing Briery Fox can stay out of trouble, this unexposed nine-year-old has the form to prevail, having finished a highly creditable third in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown in February. That was on soft ground, but he will be even more suited to today's conditions, is well weighted, and has never fallen in 13 career starts. Irish Raptor unseated his pilot three out in the four-miler at Cheltenham, but prior to that had been in good form in the main. It would be no surprise to see him go well along with Brooklyn Breeze who has only had four outings over fences, and has been kept in trim over the smaller obstacles of late. Of the rest, Risk Accessor got round in fifth in last year's Grand National, and this trip will not tax his stamina as much, so he has to merit a mention, and the fact that Paul Nicholls has left Armarturk in at the top of the handicap means that Le Volfoni lines up on a tempting 11st 4lb. Fourth in the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham, his connections are adamant that he will handle the ground. If he does, then he too can be a major player, but we shall stick with Briery Fox.
Armaturk (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 8th, headway and hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when went left 2 out, 13th of 23, 19l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Le Volfoni (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 23, 5l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 11-1 (10-13) Chased leaders until lost place 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 11th of 23, 18l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ground Ball (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) In touch, driven after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 23, 7l behind Andreas (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
On The Net (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, 2nd next, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 6l behind In The High Grass (10-1) at Gowran Park 2m hcp chs hvy in Mar.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 50-1 (10-13) Held up well in rear, rapidly headway to lead 13th, headed 3 out, weakened, 8th of 19, 15l behind L'Antartique (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Always 25-1 (11-2) Very reluctant to start and lost significant ground, never a factor, 11th of 16, 39l behind Wishwillow Lord (11-2) at Limerick 2m hdl 0-123 gs.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, ridden and headed when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on to go 2nd near finish, no impression, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Ice Tea (10-4) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Briery Fox (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 17th, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led at good pace, headed 15th, weakened before 2 out, 13th of 24, 40l behind Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Umbrella Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led to 2nd, led again 7th, headed after 13th, weakened 5 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Simon (11-2) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Turthen (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 4th, hit 15th, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened next, 7th of 24, 9l behind Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Just In Debt (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up, prominent 9th, weakened from 17th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Eurotrek (11-7) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 21 ran.
Iron Man (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden after 11th, mistake 3 out, held when bumped 2 out, 8th of 23, 12l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Latimer's Place 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led and mistake 12th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from next, 6th of 17, 13l behind Alderburn (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Kasthari (IRE) (11-0) Mid-divison until after 9th, tailed off and behind Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Hakim (NZ) 100-1 (10-0) Led until 9th, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened last, 9th of 23, 12l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Patman Du Charmil (FR) 20-1 (10-1) Held up, mistake 10th, ridden after next, soon struggling, 6th of 10, 35l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up, pulled hard, smooth headway before 3 out, every chance last, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Holy Joe (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) hvy in Mar.
Lost Time (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, led after 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed straight, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Dantes Reef (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs sft in Mar.
Almost Broke 100-1 (10-13) Behind, hampered 12th, no danger after, 11th of 24, 35l behind Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Espoir Du Bocage (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after last pulled up in race won by Turgeonev (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 12 ran.
Lord Rodney (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 12th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on one pace flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Mage d'Estruval (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Mar.
Flight Command 8-1 (11-10) Behind, ridden 2 out, kept on from next, never on terms, 5th of 11, 15l behind Nifty Roy (10-5) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Led to 10th, led again 13th, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Profowens (10-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 4-1 (10-3) Led early, led again 6th, headed 13th, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 4th of 9, 22l behind Undeniable (10-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Led to after 9th, chased winner, challenged 14th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Elvis Returns (10-9) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Cassia Heights 22-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up after 15th pulled up in race won by Iloveturtle (9-10) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 15 ran.
High Moon (USA) 33-1 (11-7) Behind, left poor 4th 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 29l behind Dead Mans Dante (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
