jumped well, led 3rd, clear before last, easily
not always fluent, tracked leaders, blundered 4th, one pace before 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up on outside, not fluent 7th, mistake 9th, headway 11th, went 2nd 13th, no impression on winner approaching last, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish
led 2nd until 3rd, tracked leaders, outpaced 12th, rallied before last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
led until 2nd, stayed handy, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and one pace after 2 out
mistake 8th, always towards rear
tracked leaders, mistake 13th, outpaced before 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
NonRunner
Many Clouds is still striving to become the first Grand National winner since 2003 to win another chase. Last year's Aintree hero has already shown he retains all his ability when finishing second to Don Poli back at Liverpool before finding only Smad Place too good at Cheltenham. But Unioniste, a former Grade 3 winner, is no mug and was successful over a longer trip around here on a previous foray north of the border. Maggio won this in 2014 but isn’t getting any younger while Carrigdhoun and the returning Gold Futures have it all to do on these terms. SAUSALITO SUNRISE (NAP) won at Cheltenham and Ascot either side of a second at Newbury. He's improved again this season and can give the top weight a real run for his money receiving 4lb.
Many Clouds (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 14th, led narrowly 2 out (usual 3 out), headed approaching last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner in clear 2nd approaching omitted last, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Smad Place (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, hit 13th, ridden after 4 out, no impression from next, left modest 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Bishops Road (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up in rear but in touch, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, led approaching 2 out, drew clear after last, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb beating Vieux Lion Rouge (11-6) by 12l, 5 ran.
Unioniste (FR) 10-11fav (11-2) In rear, tracked leader before 3rd, led 5th, headed 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well, won at Kelso 3m 2f (2) hvy in Feb beating Neptune Equester (10-12) by 9l, 4 ran.
Carrigdhoun (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 5, 20l behind Rocking Blues (11-7) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Gold Futures (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Held up behind, headway on inside 5 out, soon tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Straidnahanna (11-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
Maggio (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 9th, under pressure 3 out, soon no impression in 3rd, not fluent last, dropped to rear close home, 5th of 6, 16 3/4l behind Sir Des Champs (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Rathlin 17-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, soon ridden in 3rd and well held when quickly pulled up before last, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.