held up headway approaching 11th, ridden 3 out, stayed on run-in
with leaders 1st, behind from 4th, well behind when blundered and unseated rider last
tracked leaders 4th, mistake 17th (Valentines), lost place 19th, tailed off
held up, mistake 18th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
not fluent, held up in mid-division, rallied 2 out, one pace from next
held up behind, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on and no impression from next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 14th (Becher's), went 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last, every chance elbow, not quicken towards finish
ridden approaching last, soon weakened
in touch when trying to refuse 4th and fell
led 1st, remained close up, stayed 8th (Water), left in lead 9th, jumped right 2 out, driven out
with leaders, mistake 18th, ridden and weakened approaching last
led 2nd until blundered and unseated rider 9th
mid-division, hit 5th, headway 18th, hit next, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last
behind when blundered and unseated rider 1st
Grand National winner Amberleigh House loves it round here but the 12-year-old is now 13lbs higher than when second to Clan Royal in this event 12 months ago and looks worth taking on so preference is for Royal Atalza, who gets the nod over Ardent Scout. The last mentioned is one of two runners trained by Sue Smith in the race (the other Artic Jack having failed to complete in his last three starts) and the 12-year-old, who has a good record here, has shown signs of returning to form of late. Well treated on revised terms with Amberleigh House on running here last year, he has to be respected. George Moore's Jungle Jinks has gone up 6lbs for winning at Haydock last time and is another to consider along with the Paul Nicholls-trained Silver Birch, who is less exposed than many of his rivals. Stablemate Fasgo and Irish raider Takagi are others to consider but the vote goes to Royal Atalza. Geoff Huffer's gelding was useful over fences in his native France but showed his first form over the larger obstacles since coming to the UK when a staying on close third behind Noshinannikin at Wetherby last month. The handicapper has only raised the seven-year-old 1lb for that effort and he is taken to open his account over fences in this country today.