mid-division, headway on inside 14th, close 6th when mistake 3 out, soon beaten, no extra last
led until after 1st, prominent, led after 7th, headed after 12th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and held flat, edged right, stayed on
held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 2nd, well beaten after 18th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, lost a few places 7th, outpaced after 18th, well beaten from 5 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, driven out
led after 1st, headed after 7th, led after 12th, headed 3 out, weakened final 150 yards
prominent early, chased leaders, went 2nd from 2 out, stayed on flat, unable to challenge winner
mid-division, effort after 18th, well beaten 4 out
held up towards rear, headway after 18th, struggling 3 out, soon weakened
in touch in mid-division, effort 10th, ridden, not fluent and lost place 15th, closed 5 out, weakened 3 out
in touch, handy 5th 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 4th from last, stayed on
towards rear, well beaten 5 out
rear of mid-division, slow 7th, headway before 13th, weakened after 18th, pulled up before 5 out
held up rear of mid-division, closed on outside 13th, slow and struggling 17th, mistake next, well behind 5 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, blundered 1st, struggling when mistake 17th, well beaten after next, tailed off before 5 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, some headway 5 out, no impression, weakened next
in rear, not fluent 4th, jumped right 11th, behind next, tailed off when mistake 5 out, soon pulled up
Elegant Escape won this last year having placed in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury a few weeks earlier. He’s following an identical route but has 9lb more to carry, though his trainer is bidding for a third victory in four years and also has claims with West Approach if the fences don't get in the way of Tom Scudamore’s mount. NOW MCGINTY beat recent Ladbrokes Trophy winner De Rasher Counter over 3m here last season and went on to finish second in a Grade 2 at Ascot. Stuart Edmunds’ charge ran a cracker behind Santini on his return to action at Sandown and is the form pick. Paul Nicholls is double-handed with Truckers Lodge and Yala Enki with Evan Williams saddling three - Virginia Chick looks a through stayer and could give Isobel Williams a good ride. The Two Amigos has bags of stamina and Arthur's Gift could also go well at a working man’s price. Potters Corner won the Midlands Grand National in March and was successful over hurdles here earlier in the month so is also respected.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway on outside approaching 3 out kept on run-in, went never nearer 3rd close home, 3rd of 24, 2l behind De Rasher Counter (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Yala Enki (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 8th, mistake and headed 15th, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, 12th of 24, 27 3/4l behind De Rasher Counter (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
West Approach 7-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, driven to chase leaders before next, outpaced between last 2, ridden and stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Cogry (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Now Mcginty (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led, slow 2nd and 4th, headed 14th, soon rallied, every chance from omitted 3 out and throughout run in, stayed on gamely, 2nd of 4, hd behind Santini (11-8) at Sandown 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Potters Corner (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 3 out, headed and ridden after 2 out, led flat, all out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Remastered (12-0) by nk, 10 ran.
The Two Amigos 4-1 (12-1) Led, ridden and headed before last, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind One Of Us (10-3) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader 2nd, led 3rd until 7th, chased winner until before 3 out, went 2nd again 2 out, challenged last, led run-in, all out, won at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct beating Johanos (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pobbles Bay (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, ridden after next, headway under pressure on inside 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 7, 6 1/2l behind Champers On Ice (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Pop Rockstar (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up behind, headway 17th, outpaced on long run before 2 out, never on terms, ridden and weakened turning in, tailed off, 5th of 7, 37 3/4l behind West Approach (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Raced wide close up, pushed along 3 out, effort next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Graceful Legend (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Prime Venture (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) In touch, closer tracking leaders 8th, going well in 3rd before 5 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Truckers Lodge (11-4) at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct.
Virginia Chick (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Held up well in rear, never involved, 7th of 11, 28l behind Notachance (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Field Exhibition (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up in 4th, headway to join leaders 9th, 3rd next, close 2nd 5 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, over 1 length down and looking held when stumbled on landing and unseated rider at the last, at Newbury 2m 7f lst (1) sft in Dec.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, one pace next, stayed on to press winner flat, always just held, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Takingrisks (10-13) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) hvy in Nov.
Space Cadet (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Soon chased leaders, 7th before 8th, bumped with rival 9th, kept on same pace from before 2 out, 4th of 23, 25 1/2l behind Chris's Dream (11-7) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Nov.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders to 7th, mid-division, struggling 3 out, weakened after next, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Diesel D'Allier (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Looks Like Power (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up and behind, headway approaching 5 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 7, 17 3/4l behind Acting Lass (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
