prominent, challenged 4 out, every chance from 3 out, kept on and held last 50 yards
in rear, weakened quickly from 15th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off, pulled up
mid-division, weakened from 6 out
towards rear, weakened from 5 out
in touch, chased leaders from 15th, led before 3 out, soon pressed, kept on and held on well towards finish
tracked leader until 6 out, mistake and weakened from 2 out
led, headed before 3 out, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish
towards rear, headway before 14th, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, pushed along before 14th, soon weakened pulled up before 5 out, tailed off
behind, pushed along before 5th, struggling from 9th, pulled up
towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway 5 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, ridden after 5 out, one pace from 3 out
Despite its name, this hasn’t proved a great trial for the Grand National itself over the years but plenty of these will be Aintree-bound if running up to scratch. Blaklion won the RSA Chase last season but has struggled in top company this term. He wouldn’t be the biggest and has a welter burden to carry. He also finished behind Wakanda in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby over Christmas, though is slightly better off at the weights. Vieux Lion Rouge was seventh in the National last year and won the Becher Chase on his reappearance in December. He is a bit of an enigma but capable on his day and so is Houblon Des Obeaux, third in the Welsh National in December. Kruzhlinin won over a shorter trip here in November and Goodtoknow is another arriving in good form after a comfortable win at Hereford, for which he carries a penalty. Gas Line Boy is a stout stayer but so is TOUR DES CHAMPS and he could give budding trainer Sam Drinkwater his biggest win to date. The 10-year-old has won a Sussex National and finished fourth in a Scottish National so stamina isn’t an issue and he looked as good as ever when making a winning return to action at Cheltenham when ahead of both Doctor Harper and Warrantor.
Blaklion 2-1fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 14th, 3rd and driven 4 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 10 1/2l behind Definitly Red (11-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Wakanda (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) In touch, challenged 11th, led next, headed 4 out, stayed on same pace from 3 out, no impression on winner 2 out, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Definitly Red (11-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, some headway on outside 16th, not fluent next, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 20, 19 1/2l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Vicente (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened from 9 out, 6th of 14, 31 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 8-1fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, jumped left and bumped 9th, 4 lengths 3rd elbow, stayed on well, led close home, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Highland Lodge (10-4) by shd, 22 ran.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 3-1fav (11-8) Jumped left at times, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 9th, clear 4 out, ridden and headed when blundered 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Our Kaempfer (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, stumbled 17th, driven along when stumbled and outpaced 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th last, 4th of 16, 7 1/2l behind Pete The Feat (10-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, soon 3 lengths clear, reduced margin and driven flat, pressed towards finish, held on bravely, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Doctor Harper (11-3) by shd, 16 ran.
Goodtoknow 4-1fav (11-9) Close up, led 3 out, clear before last, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Mountainous (11-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Aqalim 16-1 (10-10) Held up in 5th, outpaced and struggling when mistake 12th, left modest 4th 14th, hampered by loose horse and went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Three Faces West (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f (2) gs in Dec.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Led from before 3rd, every chance 4 out, looking held in 3rd when fell 3 out, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Warrantor (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 17th, pressing leaders on outside 3 out, no extra in 5th 2 out, 5th of 16, 22 3/4l behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Cresswell Breeze 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, went 2nd from last, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Desert Queen (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f lst (1) gd in Jan.
Doctor Harper (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In rear, slightly hampered 2nd, behind when pulled up before 18th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
