tracked leaders, 6th when mistake and unseated rider 13th
chased leaders, not fluent 17th, close up 4 out, 3rd and no impression before last, one pace
held up towards rear, struggling when not fluent 15th, well behind when pulled up before 5 out
led until 1st, led 5th, headed 7th, 7th and weakening 16th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, struggling after 11th, mistake next, pulled up before 13th
held up towards rear, hanging left and struggling before 8th, pulled up after 11th
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 12th, well beaten 17th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, led 7th until 11th, soon led again, headed 14th, led 17th, headed 5 out, disputing 4th when fell next
led 1st, mistake and headed 5th, mistake and unseated rider 8th
held up in rear, hampered 2nd and 13th, headway 15th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on
mid-division, mistake and dropped rear 1st, hampered 2nd, behind 7th, headway after 17th, 7th before 5 out, no impression, soon weakened
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, struggling when jumped left 13th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 1st, mistake 4th, behind 8th, pulled up before 17th
mid-division, closed 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led next, clear 2 out, stayed on
chased leaders, went 2nd when blundered 8th, led 11th, soon headed, led 14th until 17th, led 5 out, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened flat
prominent, jumped slowly and lost a few places 4th, mistake 6th, very slow and weakened 15th, pulled up before 17th
towards rear, headway 4th, hampered 8th, ridden 5 out, no extra from 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 1st, mistake and unseated rider next
held up towards rear, headway 8th, lost place before 15th, pulled up approaching 17th
not much room and faltered on first bend soon after start, always in rear, pulled up before 12th
Cogry, who won on this card last season, looks a likely sort for a contest like this as he was in the process of running a big race when falling in last year's Scottish National having earlier finished sixth in the 4m National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He makes more appeal than stablemate Tour Des Champs, who won here following a lengthy lay-off last month but was pulled up behind Mountainous in this race in 2013. Mountainous, himself, was pulled up in last year's renewal behind recent Haydock winner Emperor's Choice but the latter will have to defy history to record back-to-back victories with Bonanza Boy the only chaser previously to have achieved that feat. Woodford County, placed in last year's Eider and Midlands National, is a real mudlark but had a hard race when successful at Exeter last time and was only seventh last season when racing off the same mark. Connections of UPSWING are worried about the going but he did win twice on heavy over hurdles and had Cogry, Shotgun Paddy and Black Thunder behind when a staying-on second in this grade at Cheltenham last time. He's lightly-raced over fences so there may be more to come and he gets the vote. Red Devil Lads could be the pick of Rebecca Curtis' two runners if he stays.
Black Thunder (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 6 lengths 6th when mistake and slithered on landing 2 out, not recover, 12th of 17, 20 3/4l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, led 6th, headed 8th, led 13th until not fluent next, led 15th, headed when not fluent 16th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 17, 3 3/4l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Masters Hill (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent 11th, blundered and lost place 13th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Benvolio (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, struggling 10th, never on terms, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Tour Des Champs (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) With leaders, led 3rd, headed 5th, remained close up, not fluent 10th, blundered 14th, ridden before 4 out, led before 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Lackamon (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Upswing (IRE) 6-1jfav (10-9) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 6th, mistake 4 out, headway before 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Cogry 15-2 (10-8) Prominent until 1st, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 17, 2 1/4l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Bob Ford (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, hit 3rd, mistake and headed 5th, pressed leader, led again 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, easily, won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Cloudy Copper (11-9) by 11l, 7 ran.
Red Devil Lads (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, led after 2nd, jumped left throughout, mistake when headed 2 out, rallied last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Katkeau (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway into 4th before 5 out, one pace 3 out, went 3rd before last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Tour Des Champs (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Portrait King (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, blundered and lost place 9th, headway after 3 out, disputing 5th and staying on when jumped left, hampered and fell 2 out, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up and behind, blundered badly 16th, raiiled before 3 out, outpaced next, kept on run-in, went 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 15, 5l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Return Spring (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In touch, driven to chase leaders 3 out, 4th and one pace when blundered badly and almost unseated rider next, not recover, 5th of 12, 15l behind Knock House (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mountainous (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, chased leaders approaching 17th, ridden and one pace in 4th at the last, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 15, 7l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Saroque (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Made most to 12th, with winner, led again 5 out to before next, ridden 3 out, soon lost place, weakened last, 5th of 12, 11l behind Wakanda (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 7-2jfav (10-10) Tracked clear leader, close up 5th, went 3rd after 7th, ridden to chase leader after 3 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well flat, led towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Top Wood (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Woodford County 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 14th, pushed along into 2nd before 4 out, challenged next, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Nail 'm (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Allez Vic (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) With leader, led narrowly 5th, headed 6 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Elenika (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fourovakind 7-4fav (11-11) Tended to jump right, tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, struggling after 4 out, went modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 12 1/4l behind Wilton Milan (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Chase The Spud 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed before last, regained lead as winner idled 100 yards out, headed last strides, 2nd of 7, nk behind Wilton Milan (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
