held up in rear, struggling from 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
with leaders, ridden and weakened from 5 out
held up, ridden and outpaced 12th, weakened 5 out
held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, lost place 11th, ridden approaching 14th, weakened after 4 out
held up in touch, hit 7th, lost place approaching 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
held up, headway approaching 10th, went 3rd at 13th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, all out
with leaders, led 9th, headed next, led again 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, hard ridden and rallied from last, just failed
led, headed 9th, led again 10th, headed next, hit 5 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out
in touch, not fluent 11th, hit 14th, mistake 5 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
There have to be a few reservations about the likes of Gingembre and Hussard Collonges being cherry ripe for this, so a confident vote goes to Just In Debt, whose form is working out very well and he can establish himself as a leading contender for the Grand National after this. Amberleigh House (fifth in this last year) needs no introduction on that score and he also has to come into the reckoning on the best of his form. Ginger McCain's charge is weighted to get closer to the selection than he did in the Becher Chase and he is expected to put up the most resistance. Even so, his season has always been about Aintree and, at the age of thirteen, he looks vulnerable to an improver when the emphasis is away from absolute marathon trips. Gingembre has only raced three times in the intervening period since he was awarded the 2002 Hennessy Gold Cup in controversial circumstances. He fared as well as could be expected in the Aon Chase last month but has to be a candidate for the bounce factor to strike today. So does Hussard Collonges, who only returned to racing nine days ago. This is also the first time he will take a fence in public since he suffered a pelvic injury at Wetherby in December 2003 and he looks up against it from joint top weight. Therefore, this appears to be a good opportunity for Just In Debt to enhance his profile in the build up to another crack at Liverpool's daunting fences next month.
Gingembre (FR) 33-1 Held up in rear, headway 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened well before 3 out, 5th of 8, 39l behind Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Hussard Collonges (FR) 13-2 Mid-division, pushed along after 6th, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 37l behind Spring Pursuit at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
Amberleigh House (IRE) 10-1 Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, ridden next, weakened last, last of 4, 17l behind Mouseski at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gs in Feb.
Kock de La Vesvre (FR) 12-1 In touch, went 2nd 12th, ridden 4 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 14, 18l behind Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb.
Black Frost (IRE) 14-1 Behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Indalo at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Tacolino (FR) 16-1 Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, kept on from next, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Kalca Mome at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Dec.
Run For Paddy 8-1 Held up, not fluent 7th (water), steady headway approaching 11th, stayed on one pace after 3 out, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Colourful Life at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 4-1 In touch, chasing winner when not fluent 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Innox at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Feb.
Little Big Horse (IRE) 16-1 Chased leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, no real impression from 2 out, 4th of 12, 9l behind Colourful Life at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan.
The Manse Brae (IRE) 13-2 In rear and mistakes, went 3rd under pressure approaching 3 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on run in, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Itsonlyme at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Jan.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 8-1 Tracked leader, led 15th, headed after 4 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Silver Birch at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) hvy in Dec.
Just In Debt (IRE) 33-1 Held up towards rear, headway approaching 14th (Becher's), went 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last, every chance elbow, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Silver Birch at Aintree 3m 3f hcp chs (B) sft in Nov.
