tracked leader, led 8th until 10th, stayed pressing leader until 14th, weakened next, tailed off
held up, headway after 11th, mistake 14th, soon ridden, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, hit 3rd, ridden and dropped rear quickly 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear
led until 8th, led 10th until after 15th, soon ridden, weakened quickly 17th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led after 15th, soon clear, stayed on, driven out flat
in touch, went 2nd after 16th, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out
in touch, reminders after 12th, ridden after 15th, soon beaten
not fluent 1st, held up, headway after 17th, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd next, stayed on from last, just failed to snatch 2nd
soon jumping badly right, lost touch 9th, pulled up before 15th
tracking leader when blundered 2nd, towards rear, ridden in 5th when hit 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 11th, ridden after 16th, went 2nd after 3 out, but always being held by winner, mistake last, just held on for 2nd
Nonrunner
HE'S THE GAFFER is selected here ahead of Boychuk and previous winners Le Duc and Alexanderthegreat. Bob Buckler had a high-profile success on Monday with Niche Market winning the Irish National, but He's The Gaffer's most recent runs have not been so impressive. The nine-year-old was pulled up in the Cross Country race here in March and he needs to bounce back to form. This quicker ground will help, so whilst he looks high enough in the weights we are expecting a better run. Island Flyer probably needs less of a test of stamina, whilst Never So Blue and Alexanderthegreat give Venetia Williams a strong hand as she chases more Cheltenham glory. Boychuk has won here before but his best runs have arguably come over a slightly shorter trip; he was third in this race in 2007 but there were only 5 runners and he was a disappointing odds-on favourite. Seymar Lad looks the pick of Emma Lavelle's duo, whilst Le Duc ran well in the Foxhunters' and seems to thrive at this time of year. Trigger The Light must be high on any shortlist for local trainer Alan King after a good effort in defeat last time out. A tricky puzzle to solve but we will take a chance on He's The Gaffer.
Tana River (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Led to 12th, ridden 14th, lost place after 16th, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 16, well behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Trigger The Light 7-1 (11-12) Held up, reminders 11th, driven 16th, headway into 3rd, blundered 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat, closed on winner, never quite able to challenge, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Fresh Air And Fun (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Led 1st, headed 7th, led 10th to 13th, led 18th, clear briefly after 20th, headed and bumped after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 18l behind Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar.
He's The Gaffer (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Mistake 11th and rider lost irons, always towards rear, mistake 23rd, pulled up before 26th, in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Island Flyer (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Led, headed after 3rd, chased leader until approaching 12th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Don't Push It (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs, 15 ran.
Boychuk (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up, lost place 8th, kept on moderately, 5th of 11, 13l behind Seymar Lad (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Bob Bob Bobbin 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 5 out, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 6th of 29, 27l behind Irish Raptor (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Don't Push It (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs, 15 ran.
Le Duc (FR) 11-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 12th (Canal Turn), effort after 3 out, one pace, 5th of 29, 18l behind Trust Fund (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gd.
Never So Blue (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 6th, led 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on flat, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb beating Durante (11-6) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon no impression, left 2nd, weakening and slightly hampered last, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Keenan's Future (11-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Obaki de Grissay (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 16th, mistake 17th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 15l behind Le Beau Bai (11-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 7-1fav (10-8) Never reached beyond mid-division, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off when refused last, in a race won by Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
