tracked leader to 8th, left 2nd again 10th (bechers brook), blundered and lost place 14th, chased leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, no impression
behind, hampered badly 10th (bechers brook), struggling 13th, blundered 3 out, never near leaders
towards rear of mid-division, mistake 8th, chased leaders and reminders 15th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
in touch, mistake 5th, chased winner 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace flat
jumped well, made all, ridden after last, stayed on well to go clear flat
raced wide, mistakes 1st and next, soon behind, lost touch and pulled up before 8th
towards rear, mistake 12th (canal turn), chased leaders under pressure after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd passing elbow, kept on, just held for 2nd, collapsed after race
towards rear when mistake and unseated rider 5th
mid-division, steady headway and in touch 14th, went 2nd last, soon ridden, kept on, no impression with winner flat, just held on for 2nd
mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, traked winner 8th until fell 10th (bechers brook)
in touch on outside, mistake 8th, outpaced 13th, behind when hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch when fell 6th
in touch on inside, outpaced 13th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, no impression
mid-division, struggling 13th, behind when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, lost place when hampered 6th, behind when mistake next, lost touch and pulled up before 13th
mid-division, blundered 8th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened from next
This typically wide-open renewal of the Grand Sefton can go to FRANKIE FIGG. In a race of this type, over the National fences, it's important to find a horse who will jump the obstacles and although this one's form figures over them read FFU, he has jumped them exuberantly to a point. Indeed in the Topham Chase during the spring this horse would surely have been no worse than second had he not unseated his rider two from home; if he can get round he could take some pegging back. Magic Sky needs a career-best from a handicapping perspective and lacks a look around as does Stormin Exit, a progressive type who comes into this on the back of his solid record fresh. His stable-companion won this from out of the weights in 2007 and will be bidding to repeat the trick while Et Maintenant, Private Be and the quirky Moon Over Miami are all worthy of respect.
Always Waining (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, led 13th, headed after next, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 13, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, left in 2nd at last, ran on under pressure to lead close home, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating Sunday City (11-5) by 1l, 6 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, held up behind, headway 13th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, effort and every chance between last 2, stayed on under pressure flat to go 2nd near finish, just held, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Alderburn (11-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
Dashing George (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 43l behind Mister Hyde (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Frankie Figg (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) With leaders and keen, led 3rd, headed before 8th, soon lost place, weakened from 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Neptune Equester (10-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Victorias Groom (GER) 5-1 (11-7) Made most until 3 out, ridden and kept on, one pace, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Ursis (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Private Be 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch before 3 out, left modest 5th and hampered 2 out, 5th of 17, 11l behind Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Battlefront (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd 5 out, ridden and dropped to 5th 3 out, kept on one pace in straight, 4th of 8, 19l behind Rubi Light (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs 0-140.
Nikola (FR) 7-1 (10-5) Always in rear, slow 3rd, under pressure 5th, soon behind, 9th of 10, well behind Safari Journey (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led 4th until 6th, driven after 4 out, stayed on well flat to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating Five Dream (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Double Dizzy 3-1 (11-3) Disputed lead after 3rd, hard ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 7, 21l behind Songe (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) In touch, led 13th, mistake and headed 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 18, 13l behind Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Et Maintenant (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Sibenek (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear but in touch, headway 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened before last, 5th of 7, 22l behind Songe (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Craiglands (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Lampion du Bost (FR) 12-1 (10-4) Prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 18l behind Edmo Yewkay (10-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Jan '08.