held up in mid-division, hit 10th, headway after 13th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged 6th, pushed along before 11th, lost place after 13th, well beaten before 5 out, tailed off
held up in rear, well beaten before 5 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway from 10th, mistake 3 out, every chance flat, not much room towards finish, held after
held up in touch, well beaten after 13th, tailed off
led until 6th, led after next, not fluent 10th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, mid-division when bad mistake 9th, headway 5 out, hit 4 out, jumped right 2 out, one pace and no impression when mistake last
held up in touch, closed 10th, went 2nd when not fluent 5 out, led 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on
held up towards rear, struggling from 10th, well behind next, pulled up after
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, hit 5th and 6th, well behind before 5 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, well behind 8th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 13th, close 3rd when not fluent 3 out, every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off
tracked leader, led 6th, headed before next, not fluent 12th, losing place when jumped right and weakened 5 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, hit 13th and lost place, well beaten before 5 out, soon pulled up
This is a terrific contest for the time of year and most punters will be hanging around to watch some old favourites make their return. Monbeg Dude won the Welsh National here last year and landed a Grade Three handicap at Cheltenham in December. Handy Andy will take no prisoners and looks to be on a decent mark but will face a battle for the lead from Carruthers and HIGHLAND LODGE ran a cracker at Wincanton off a 2lb higher mark on his reappearance last season. The latter was then fourth in the Hennessy and, if he can reproduce that form in a first-time visor, Emma Lavelle's charge should take all the beating. Forgotten Gold could figure if his jumping doesn't let him down while Benbens is worth a try in this grade but Rebel Rebellion has plenty of weight and Twirling Magnet's confidence could need a boost. Night Alliance and The Italian Yob are also best watched on this occasion.
Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, ridden after 3 out, weakened last, tailed off, 15th of 30, well behind Ma Filleule (11-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Carruthers 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3rd until 14th, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 19, 30l behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Twirling Magnet (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 11th, headway 13th, led after 4 out, headed and beaten when when fell last, in a race won by The Romford Pele (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun, 17 ran.
Monbeg Dude (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 24th (2nd canal turn), chased leaders 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, 7th of 40, 22l behind Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3rd, mistake 15th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 41l behind Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened 13th, towards rear when blundered 17th, tailed off, 8th of 13, 33l behind Roalco De Farges (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Mar.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, mistake 5th, blundered 10th, ridden and struggling before 16th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Night Alliance (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up, blundered 8th, mid-division 11th, no impression when pecked 4 out, no chance when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Spring Heeled (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amat hcap ch (2) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracking leaders when blundered badly and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Karinga Dandy (10-12) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
The Italian Yob (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader, weakened 11th, soon behind, pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Benefit Cut (11-4) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Mar, 5 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mistake 1st, held up in touch, chased leaders after 17th, not much rooom on inside on bend after 4 out, driven and went 3rd 3 out, kept on under pressure run-in, went 2nd post, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Guess Again (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
De La Bech 5-1fav (11-11) Prominent, went 2nd 10th, led before 12th, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Rebeccas Choice (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Tended to jump right, tracked leaders, 2nd 3rd until 12th, chased leading pair until after 13th, went distant 3rd again 3 out, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Creepy (11-3) at Chepstow 3m nov hcap ch (3) gd in Sep.
Trafalgar (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) With leader, led 13th, mistake 5 out, headed 3 out, driven and one pace next, no impression from last, 4th of 7, 7l behind Barton Stacey (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
