mid-division, headway before 27th (Aintree), chased leaders 5 out, pushed along before 2 out, no extra approaching last
towards rear, headway when unseated rider 18th
midfield until mistake and unseated rider 27th (Aintree)
close up, led 3rd, soon disputing lead, headed 7th, not fluent 27th (Aintree), soon lost place, weakened 2 out
close up when slow 1st, led after 1st, headed 3rd, soon disputing lead again, led 7th, not fluent 4 out, stumbled on bend and headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened after last
chased leaders, lost place 27th, rallied 3 out, headway to challenge before last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on gamely
jumped slow 1st, midfield, dropped towards rear 7th, slow next, not fluent 21st, headway to chase leaders when bumped 27th (Aintree), pushed along 3 out, kept on from 2 out
midfield, slow 8th, headway to chase leaders 18th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, kept on one pace
raced keenly towards rear, blundered 4th (Aintree), headway into midfield 19th, lost place 26th, soon beaten
mid-division, slow 8th, in touch when blundered 27th (Aintree), soon weakened
chased leaders, hampered by loose horse before 21st, headway to challenge before last, ridden flat, stayed on to challenge winner final 100yds, always held by winner
chased leaders, slow 11th, lost place 12th, pulled up before 24th
always in rear
Balko Des Flos unseated his rider in the Glenfarclas Chase over course and distance in March but then ran the race of his life at Aintree when finishing second in the Grand National. He had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Galway last month but has several interesting rivals in this including last season’s Irish Grand National winner Freewheelin Dylan, who later ran fourth in a valuable handicap at Punchestown and is a strong stayer. Talkischeap and Plan Of Attack are both potentially well treated and Back On The Lash is less exposed than most but DIESEL D’ALLIER has valuable experience of these fences, winning this in 2019 when trained in France. He looks the best option despite having changed stables.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Rear, 12th before 8th, no headway, weakened after 2 out, never a factor, 11th of 13, dist behind Jiving Jerry (9-13) at Galway 2m 6f hcp sft in Oct.
Talkischeap (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Led until 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jul.
Freewheelin Dylan (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd after 4th, took closer order at 7th, under pressure in 4th after 2 out, dropped to 6th before last, no extra, 6th of 13, 8 3/4l behind The Big Lense (10-10) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Soon towards rear, never a factor, no impression approaching 5 out, soon no extra, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Ballinrobe 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in May.
Potters Corner (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Towards rear, blundered 1st, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 10th, not fluent 12th, well beaten after 4 out, last of 7, dist behind Wishing And Hoping (11-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Back On The Lash 4-1 (11-2) Chased leader until 5th, pushed along to close 9th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten next, last of 5, 20l behind Annual Invictus (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Plan Of Attack (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent at 2nd, 7th after 7th, headway to close in 3rd before 8th, lost place before 3 out, under pressure after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 12th of 19, 28 1/2l behind Born By The Sea (11-0) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Diesel D'Allier (FR) (10-12) 6th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Vent Des Dunes (10-12) at Strasbourg 3m 2f sft in Apr.
Volcano (FR) 50-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along 2 out, no impression, well beaten 10th last, 10th of 14, 27 1/4l behind Uno Mas (10-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Fox Pro (FR) 9-4 (11-8) Led, jumped left throughout, hit 14th, headed 5 out, pushed along after 4 out, mistake and ridden 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 2nd of 3, 3 1/2l behind No Anxiety (10-13) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 11-4jfav (10-10) Held up early, mid-division from 5th, closer in 3rd 6 out, disputed before next, pecked 3 out, soon ridden in 2nd briefly, disputed again before straight, ridden to lead before 2 out, strongly pressed last, kept on well under pressure, all out, won at Wexford 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun beating An Droichead Gorm (11-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Friends Don't Ask 9-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 7th, struggling in 5th at 15th, soon lost touch, tailed off 17th, pulled up soon after, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Sigurd (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, badly hampered 12th and dropped to last, soon pushed along and effort get back in touch before 4 out, ridden 4 out and soon beaten, 5th of 9, 28 3/4l behind Soyouthinksoagain (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
