chased leaders, driven and headway approaching 5 out, soon under pressure, weakened after 2 out, lost remote 3rd towards finish
led until after 2nd, led again 4th, headed 12th, struggling in 2nd when blundered 4 out, jumped slowly 2 out, soon under pressure, stayed on to go remote 3rd close home
prominent, led after 2nd, headed 4th, lost place after 8th, behind from 11th, pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, led 12th, hit 5 out, 15 lengths clear before 2 out, drew further clear after last, eased closing stages, easily
always in rear, under pressure 6 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 9th, under pressure 6 out, rallied to chase easy winner approaching 2 out, never able to challenge
Not for the first time, ROCKY CREEK (NAP) failed to enjoy himself last time over the National fences at Aintree and was pulled up. But he's a decent stayer on his day, as he showed when finishing runner-up to Don Cossack at Down Royal in the autumn, and may be good enough to land this – his yard has a terrific record in the contest. Official ratings suggest Ballynagour will be a threat, though he's turned in a couple of shockers behind Cue Card since finishing third to same horse in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in October. The Giant Bolster beat the selection and Houblon Des Obeaux in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham a couple of years ago but that was his last success and he's getting a bit long in the tooth nowadays.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Prominent, hampered and lost place 9th, behind when mistake and hampered 12th (canal turn), soon pulled up, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Splash of Ginge 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, in rear and blundered 7th, soon struggling, pulled up, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Bob Ford (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, led 7th until 11th, soon led again, headed 14th, led 17th, headed 5 out, disputing 4th when fell next, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Ballynagour (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Always in rear, not fluent 2nd and 8th, tailed off from 11th, pulled up before next, at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 6th, mistake 15th, remote 7th 16th, plugged on into remote 4th latter stages, 4th of 14, 33 3/4l behind Russe Blanc (10-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Midnight Appeal 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 12, dist behind Standing Ovation (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Aug.
The Giant Bolster 25-1 (11-0) In touch, dropped to last pair but in touch 5th, struggling 11th, behind 14th, plugged on to take modest 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 8, dist behind Smad Place (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
