in touch, weakened 11th, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, reminder after 9th, chased leader 12th, left in lead 3 out, jumped right and headed last, no extra
prominent, went 3rd approaching 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, led last, stayed on well
chased leader, led 3rd, blundered 12th, ridden approaching 4 out, 5 lengths clear and under pressure when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out
prominent, blundered 12th, weakened 4 out, left poor 3rd 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 11th, pulled up before 4 out
led to 3rd, chased leader, weakened 12th, left poor 4th 3 out
towards rear, reminder 3rd, soon behind, pulled up after 9th
towards rear, reminder 7th, mistake and unseated rider 8th
mid-division, mistake 8th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
Portland Bill is preferred to Dream Alliance and Leading Authority. There are slight doubts about the selection's stamina despite having a course and distance win to his name whilst it has to be hoped that his fall at Cheltenham hasn't affected his confidence. On the plus side, he usually jumps soundly and he doesn't have very much to find at the weights and there are doubts about the opposition. Dream Alliance pulled up in the Welsh National after running a blinder in the Hennessy. He's the form pick but lost his way in the middle of last season and is fitted with blinkers for the first time today. Crystal D'Ainay is a notoriously quirky customer and Albuhera has been off the course for some time. There's nothing to choose between Leading Authority and Niche Market on their running here last time but both they and Caribou look vulnerable. Therefore, we'll take a chance with Portland Bill.
Albuhera (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, lost place 10th, blundered badly 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on well, ran on but no chance with front pair, 4th of 15, 6l behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Mar '0.
Caribou (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders after 4 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 8th, headway 13th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 17l behind Backbeat (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Dream Alliance 6-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, never jumped well and pulled up at the 15th in race won by Miko de Beauchene (10-5) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
Leading Authority (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Led, blundered badly and headed 15th, soon ridden, led approaching 4 out, headed last, short of room, switched right and rallied close home, 2nd of 4, hd behind Niche Market (10-13) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan. Later awarded.
Lord Killeshanra (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 28l behind Kornati Kid (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Deep Quest 4-1fav (10-4) Behind, headway 10th, not fluent next, chased leaders 4 out, soon outpaced, headway 2 out, kept on under pressure, 4th of 13, 6l behind Macmar (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Dream Falcon 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 11th, never on terms after, 4th of 12, 43l behind Shardakhan (11-11) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Niche Market (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leader, with leader 9th, led 10th to after 11th, left in lead 13th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, led last, hard ridden and edged left after, just held on, won at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Leading Authority.
Portland Bill (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Held up, smooth headway 13th, 4th and travelling well when fell 4 out in race won by Arturio (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
