held up mid-division, mistake 8th, soon pushed along and lost place from next, never dangerous
soon close up, led 14th, clear approaching 4 out, soon ridden, headed final 100 yards, no extra
led from 2nd, headed 7th, chased leaders, weakened 18th
held up, weakened from 7 out, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, mistake 8th, weakened from 15th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 10th, pushed along 12th, reminders and weakened from 15th
held up mid-division, reminders and weakened 15th, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, 2nd and not fluent 4 out, one pace from last
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led last 100 yards, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 18th, kept on same pace from last
held up towards rear, weakened from 16th, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
held up mid-division, chased leaders 13th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, pushed along 13th, headway from 6 out, no impression
led to 2nd, chased leaders, led again 7th, headed 14th, weakened from 5 out
held up in rear, quickly pulled up before 16th
This will be a real test of jumping and stamina, one that is a real puzzle to solve, but our idea of the winner is OLD BENNY who can get the better of Alderburn and Bay Cherry. Alan King's gelding won over this trip at Cheltenham before taking fourth in the Scottish National back in 2008. A setback followed before he looked set to resume his upward curve this season after a promising pipe-opener over hurdles in November, but with the stable struggling for form he was pulled up in the Welsh National on his only start since. We feel he's well worth another chance though, particularly as the handicapper has seen fit to drop him a couple of pounds and the stable have returned to form with a bang of late. Alderburn is a tough and consistent sort and perhaps he will pose the biggest threat. Henry Daly's charge is a pound higher than when taking second last time but that was a good effort and there'll be plenty of support for the veteran despite the fact he's winless since 2007. Contrastingly, Bay Cherry is unexposed and arrives on the back of two victories in novice company. He was an expensive purchase for connections who will be hopeful he's up to defying this mark of 123 and there's every chance he may, particularly if he continues to jump well. Last year's winner Jass has claims despite racing off a 9lb higher mark, although Keith Reveley's eight-year-old has scarcely threatened since and might just be handicapped out of this. Kilbeggan Blade stays this far and has dropped to a winning mark so rates a solid player, he's of more interest than Knighton Combe who might be found out by this rise in class. Chiaro is relatively unexposed in the context of today's race and he could improve past a few of these off the same mark which saw him take fourth in last season's Scottish National. Rambling Minster was many people's fancy for the Grand National but he wasn't fluent that day and didn't finish. He's 3lbs below his last winning mark but perhaps wants the ground a bit softer and hasn't looked the same animal lately. Gidam Gidam has been placed off higher marks than this and is often under-rated by the bookmakers so could merit an each way play although he struggles to win in this company, King Harald remains a little high in the weights and is opposable at the ripe old age of 12 and Briery Fox is another veteran whose form this season doesn't stack up with his previous efforts. Sue Smith's pair of Stagecoach Diamond and Garleton could both be generously priced but neither looks handicapped to win this and we prefer the claims of Old Benny, who can get his career back on track with victory.
Rambling Minster 25-1 (11-2) Always behind, pushed along 10th, hampered next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Calgary Bay (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec.
Turpin Green (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Not fluent, ridden 14th, never on terms, last of 7, 43l behind Sherwoods Folly (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Alderburn 5-1 (11-3) Made most until headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Calgary Bay (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec.
Kilbeggan Blade 33-1 (10-4) Prominent early, weakened halfway, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Old Benny 10-1 (9-11) Always behind, mistake 13th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Jass 12-1 (10-4) Handy until outpaced approaching 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 12, 20l behind Our Vic (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Chiaro (FR) 25-1 (9-13) In touch until weakened 9th and soon in rear, 9th of 15, 22l behind Time For Rupert (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-155 (2) sft in Dec.
King Harald (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) In touch when slipped and unseated rider after 15th, in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Knighton Combe 11-2 (11-6) Close up, not fluent 7th, headway 17th, chasing leaders when hit 4 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, challenged last, edged left flat, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Gentle Ranger (11-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 12th, went remote 4th approaching last, 4th of 9, 32l behind Never So Blue (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Briery Fox (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Always behind, blundered 9th, 7th of 12, 37l behind Calgary Bay (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec.
Minella Four Star (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 16th, challenged going well 3 out, 4th and under pressure when fell 2 out, in a race won by Knighton Combe (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Bay Cherry (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) With leader, led after 4 out, headed, not fluent next, ridden 2 out, rallied to lead again before last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Stagecoach Diamond (10-8) by 3l, 5 ran.
Garleton (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 13th, weakened before 16th, 4th of 9, 29l behind Boris The Blade (10-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Stagecoach Diamond 28-1 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 11th, one pace from 4 out, 3rd of 12, 21l behind Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan.
Cardinal Spirit 50-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, struggling 9th, soon behind, pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Khachaturian (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
