held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 4 out
made all, ridden 2 out, kept on
in touch, pushed along and weakened before 6 out
tracked leader, fell 2nd
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden and every chance before last, kept on and held towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, went 3rd before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, left 2nd from 2nd, soon with winner, ridden and weakened from 3 out
held up mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on
behind, hampered 2nd, never dangerous
Some old favourites face the starter here, though most have probably seen better days. NIGHT IN MILAN may be exception and he's run some of his best races around here, as he proved when scoring over hurdles at the track last month. Winner of the Grimthorpe here in 2014 and third in last year's Skybet Chase off a 7lb higher mark, he must be thereabouts again. Reaping The Reward is 5lb higher than when second to Aachen in this last year but was again second over course and distance on his reappearance before finishing third at Sandown and warrants respect. Godsmejudge, a former Scottish National winner, ran his best race for some time when second to Ziga Boy here in December but last year's Grand National runner-up Saint Are may be using this as a warm-up for a another crack at Aintree.
French Opera 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, not fluent 8th or 11th, well behind 12th, pulled up before next, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Saint Are (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Led until 4th, stayed handy, mistake 18th, one pace when hampered 2 out, no extra last, 7th of 17, 32l behind Highland Lodge (10-0) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Benbens (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 11th, headway when mistake 16th, hampered next, struggling 4 out, plugged on flat, no impression on leaders, 5th of 15, 28 1/4l behind Soll (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Night In Milan (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Horsted Valley (11-5) by 8l, 16 ran.
Grandads Horse 8-1 (11-2) In touch, not fluent 7th, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, dist behind Kruzhlinin (11-3) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway from 14th, mistake 15th, went 2nd after 3 out until last, 3rd and beaten flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 15, 6 1/4l behind Soll (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Shotavodka (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) In rear, went 3rd from 8th, in 3rd before 3 out and well held, soon left 2nd and fell 3 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Godsmejudge (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden 12th, slightly hampered and left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd next, stayed on, no impression on eased down winner, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Ziga Boy (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, weakened before 6 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Sonofagun (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, reminder 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
