held up behind, hit 6th, struggling 9th, not fluent 11th, soon lost touch, pulled up 4 out
raced wide, went prominent at 3rd, disputed 3rd when blundered badly and unseated rider 9th
held up behind, hampered 9th, headway 13th, 4th and outpaced after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to challenge between last 2, led narrowly flat, just held on
tracked leaders, lost place 13th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
led, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, rallied when headed narrowly flat, just held
held up in touch on inside, slightly hampered 9th, headway 12th, tracked leading pair next, outpaced when switched outside after 3 out, went 2nd and every chance next, soon ridden, weakened flat
tracked leader, lost place when hit 10th, outpaced 13th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, badly hampered 9th, tracked leader 13th, ridden and lost place when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
The 2011 Grand National hero Ballabriggs is also engaged at Newbury today but has used this as a prep for the big one for the last couple of years without success. He could only manage fourth last year, though he's 8lb lower today. Bold Sir Brian has won over these fences but looked beaten in fifth when falling at the last at Cheltenham in January. He's not easily dismissed if fully recovered but HARRY TOPPER is preferred. The latter is less experienced over fences but is unbeaten in three attempts culminating in a convincing defeat of previous winner Hawkes Point at Exeter last month. Kim Bailey's charge can take advantage of the favourable terms and land this. Garleton was beaten at Ascot last time having been raised 5lb for a win at Wetherby and Yes Tom arrives in better form than the remainder who are all struggling at present.
Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 11th, left 3 lengths 2nd 3 out, lost place next, 5th and weakening when fell heavily last, in a race won by Katenko (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
Harry Topper 5-4fav (11-7) Held up in 4th, settled in 5th at 10th, smooth headway to challenge 4 out, went 2nd approaching next, led 2 out, in command before last, stayed on strongly and came clear flat, won at Exeter 3m grd chs (5yo+) (2) hvy in Feb beating Hawkes Point (11-4) by 12l, 5 ran.
Always Right (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 10, 43l behind Cloudy Too (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Towards rear, fell 2nd, in a race won by Monkerty Tunkerty (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Garleton (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 5th to 11th, lost place before 4 out, no impression from next, 4th of 9, 20l behind Marufo (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
BallaBriggs (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Led to 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, last of 7, 24l behind Molotof (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Going Wrong 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pecked and lost place 3rd, never on terms after, jumped slowly 5th, struggling 9th, plugged on to modest 5th 2 out, 5th of 8, 20l behind Consigliere (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Yes Tom (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway before 9th to chase leaders, went 2nd 2 out until no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Nuts N Bolts (11-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Feb.
