mid-division on inside, hit 11th, modest 6th and outpaced home turn, weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off
soon towards rear, never involved, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 4th until 19th, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced in 5th home turn, plugged on
off the pace and always rear-division, tailed off 5 out, bad mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway chasing leaders when went right and bumped rival 5 out, pushed along in 4th before next, soon ridden, mistake 4 out, went right next, weakened badly run-in
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, bumped 5 out, went 2nd again 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
chased leaders, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
jumped slowly 10th, off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off in rear 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
off the pace towards rear, headway out wide from 2 out, stayed on into modest 3rd final 100 yards
off the pace and always towards rear
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 19th, led before 4 out, 3 lengths ahead at the last, stayed on strongly to go further clear run-in
led until before 4 out, chased winner, held when lost 2nd 2 out, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
Truckers Lodge is a proven stayer having finished fourth in the Welsh Grand National last time, though it’s almost three years since he last won. Captain Cattistock won this last year and should be prominent again, though is closely matched with The Wolf on Cheltenham running in the autumn. THE FERRY MASTER was pulled up behind stablemate Flower Of Scotland at Kelso two runs ago but wasn’t suited by the rain-softened ground. He ran much better here last time and will be a working man’s price in this, despite being on a very lenient mark nowadays. Sandy Thomson also runs Doyen Breed while Tide Times has been in good form at Ludlow, though has recorded all of his chase wins at the Shropshire track and will have stamina to prove. Slipway won the Highland National at Perth last April and made a winning reappearance over an extended 3m3f at Fontwell but looks to be on a high enough mark now.
Slipway (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching omitted final fence, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Premiumaccess (10-2) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Mighty Thunder 15-2 (12-0) Led, went clear after 2nd until 6th, headed after 4 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off when fell last, at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Front mid-division, went 4th 18th, ridden 5 out, gradually weakened, 4th of 17, 28 1/4l behind The Two Amigos (10-6) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Doyen Breed (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, went 3rd after 4 out, pushed along 3 out, gradually weakened, 7th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Silver Flyer (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
The Wolf (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Not always fluent in rear, slow 8th, well beaten 4 out, stayed on but no impression from 2 out, 8th of 11, 18 3/4l behind Rapper (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Captain Cattistock 11-4fav (11-4) Held up behind leaders, raced on outside, niggled along 18th, closed 3 out, close 3rd last, held flat, no extra and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 8, 7l behind Eva's Oskar (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Regina Dracones (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on outside, fell 14th, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Innisfree Lad (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, 7th of 15, 21 1/2l behind Bangers And Cash (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Tide Times (IRE) 16-5 (11-2) Tended to jump left, led, briefly headed before 6th and before 15th, ridden before 4 out, 2 lengths ahead 3 out, 1 length ahead 2 out, good jump to maintain advantage last, kept on run-in, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Ree Okka (11-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Flower Of Scotland (FR) 10-3fav (10-2) Travelled strongly, midfield, ridden and headway to lead 2 out, went 3 lengths clear last, stayed on well run-in, won at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Clonguile Way (10-2) by 6l, 13 ran.
The Ferry Master (IRE) 14-1 (12-2) Prominent, every chance 3 out, mistake 3 out, well held by winner 2 out, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Massini Man (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Magna Sam 11-2 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place towards rear and struggling before 12th, never on terms after, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Just Don't Know (IRE) 4-5fav (10-2) Led, headed and tracked leader 6th, led again 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on well, always doing enough, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Bavington Bob (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
