led, headed 4 out, ridden and pecked 2 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, hit 6th, behind from 11th, tailed off
behind, hit 5th, tailed off 9th, pulled up 3 out
held up in rear, blundered and fell 7th
held up in rear, slow jump 11th, headway between last 2, kept on well flat, went 2nd towards finish
blundered 1st, held up in rear, hit 4 out, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
mid-division, headway 9th, challenged 3 out, led before next, driven and stayed on well flat
behind, hit 5th, hampered 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
chased leaders, blundered 10th and slightly lost place, rallied under pressure from 3 out, stayed on well flat
chased leaders, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 12th
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened between last 2
held up towards rear, hit 7th, blundered 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
soon chasing leader, hit 9th, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, moving place and behind when pulled up 11th
behind when pulled up 7th
chased leader, went 2nd and pecked 2 out, stayed chasing winner, driven, no impression when lost 2nd close home
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Ferdy Murphy and Nigel Twiston-Davies have both won this race in recent years and each has two strong representatives today, however ACCORDING TO PETE has been overlooked in the run-up to the race and Malcolm Jefferson's gelding is given the vote. The rain that is forecast will be in the gelding's favour and he also has fitness on his side after a spin around York last month. His form in the north a year ago reads well and he lost very little in defeat behind Big Fella Thanks at Doncaster in January. That horse franked the form when sixth in the Grand National and it is a bonus that he is able to race off a 3lb lower mark this afternoon. Second-season chasers traditionally have a good record in the race, and one of those is Jewson Novices' Handicap winner Chapoturgeon. With doubts about the ground for Poquelin, and doubts about the trip and progression of Tatenen, he looks the pick of the Paul Nicholls runners. In general his jumping last season was exceptional and although he is 18lb higher than his win in March, with another year on his back there is no telling how high he might go. A slog in the mud will suit Ballyfitz who has gone well fresh in the past, Tartak flopped on his reappearance at Aintree where he didn't jump well but a long season lies ahead, whilst top-weight Our Vic won this race in 2004 but he had an 'Annus Horribilis' last season. Tranquil Sea has been the subject of strong support all week; Ed O' Grady's gelding is proven in the mud and he looks a huge player given that he is now 10lb better off with the selection than when sixth here in March. Kerry National hero Northern Alliance is not unduly punished with a 7lb higher mark here, and he is another who doesn't have too much to find with Chapoturgeon. A win for him would be a timely fillip for under-fire jockey Paul Carberry. Tarotino's jumping has been a feature of his wins and Alan King's gelding is not to be underestimated as he deserves this step up in class. A 15lb higher mark will make life tough but he looks a player despite rain unlikely to be in his favour. Il Duce may be enlivened by a switch of yards, whilst My Petra took the wrong route at Wetherby last time. That was a race that she had won the year before and she was travelling well at the time of the jockey error, so it would appear that she is in very good form at present. Bible Lord seemed to revel under the guidance of Nick Scholfield last time out, whilst I'm So Lucky and Leslingtaylor both have stamina for this trip to prove. From Dawn To Dusk is tempting given his course record but he would prefer a quicker surface, so of more interest are Watch My Back (ran well here behind Poquelin recently) and Three Mirrors (fifth in this race last year) who represent Ferdy Murphy. As competitive a renewal as ever, but the hope is that According To Pete can prosper.
Our Vic (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Held up, chased leaders approaching 14th, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 10, 28l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Tartak (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, blundered 10th, weakened from next, last of 8, well behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs (1) gs in Oct.
Knowhere (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked winner until 5 out, ridden approaching next, one pace when hit last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs (1) gs in Oct.
Chapoturgeon (FR) 4-9fav (11-8) Led 2nd, hit 3rd, not fluent 7th or 8th, hit 3 out and headed, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Gauvain (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m nov stks (2) gs in Apr.
Poquelin (FR) 9-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out and led soon after fence, clear last, eased towards finish until pushed out close home, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct beating Gaelic Flight (10-10) by 1l, 13 ran.
Tatenen (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Led and disputed, headed 4 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, kept on one pace, weakened from last, 5th of 7, 22l behind Barker (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 gs in Apr.
Tranquil Sea (IRE) 6-4fav (11-1) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd before straight, travelling well and left in lead 2 out, joined last, pushed out to lead and assert run-in, won at Naas 2m chs Grade 3 sft in Oct beating Joncol (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Northern Alliance (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Settled mid-division, 8th halfway, headway in 5th 5 out, 3rd 3 out, improved in 2nd before straight, led 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed, briefly headed last, kept on best run-in, won at Listowel 3m Ext hcp chs in Sep beating Church Island (11-2) by 1l, 18 ran.
Ballyfitz 16-1 (11-4) In touch, struggling 10th, behind from 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Cooldine (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar, 15 ran.
Tarotino (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 8th, clear after 3 out, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May beating Thunder Rock (11-1) by 18l, 10 ran.
Il Duce (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway in touch when hit 9th, chased leaders 12th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 14, 42l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
My Petra 4-1fav (11-6) Held up in touch, smooth headway to lead after 4 out, going well when took wrong course before next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Santia (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
According To Pete 11-2 (11-11) Led, hit 9th, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 4th of 13, 19l behind Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
I'm So Lucky 14-1 (11-3) Prominent, lost place 2nd, behind from 8th, 11th of 17, 24l behind Oh Crick (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Three Mirrors 16-1 (10-5) Always behind, 6th of 8, 39l behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs (1) gs in Oct.
Hold Em (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened from last, 5th of 16, 8l behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Bible Lord (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, led on inside approaching 4 out, driven and idled flat, always holding on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct beating Bauhaus (9-11) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Pop (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, driven and outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 14, in a race won by Jaunty Flight (10-13) at Perth 3m nov stks (2) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) In touch chasing group, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 12l behind Tramantano (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
From Dawn To Dusk 9-2fav (10-7) Held up mid-division, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, weakened flat, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Valley Ride (9-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
