with leader, not fluent at times, pushed along after 6th, led 9th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching last
led until 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, towards rear when hampered and mistake 4th, stumbled 8th, some late headway, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear on outside, headway 5th, weakened after 9th, tailed off
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, challenegd after 2 out, 1 length down flat, stayed on well towards finish
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, led when not fluent 3 out, blundered next, soon headed, led again before last, held on gamely
held up towards rear, headway 9th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
mid-division, mistake 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 6th, well beaten 9th
mid-division, lost place when mistake 3rd, jumped left and bumped 4th, tailed off 8th
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 6th, not fluent and outpaced 8th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders on inside, lost place approaching 3rd, stayed on from 3 out, no impression before last
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, went 2nd 3 out, led after 2 out, headed before last, no extra towards finish
tracked leadrs until weakened approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
Current Grand National favourite Junior begins his preparations with his first run since last year's Cheltenham Festival but is likely to need this. Knock A Hand has been in great form, completing a hat-trick when successful at Haydock in December, while Deireadh Re has won three of his four starts over hurdles and is only 5lb higher than when winning at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Gullinbursti only found Rocky Creek too strong in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last month but there are one or two lurking near the foot of the handicap that could provide a bigger threat. Stow is only 4lb higher than when successful in this race 12 months ago but we just prefer PAVILLON BLEU, who has come right back to his best recently and can finally get off the mark for the season.
Junior 10-3fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, went prominent 9th, went 2nd next, leader went clear 15th, closed 3 out, soon led, ridden clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar beating Faasel (11-9) by 24l, 24 ran.
Buena Vista (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Led to after 2nd, mistake next, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off 6th, 16th of 19, well behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.
Sir Kezbaah (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, chased leaders, lost place before 8th, soon struggling, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Theologist (9-13) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Deireadh Re (IRE) 6-4fav (9-7) In touch, headway to chase leader 9th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well run in to lead post, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec beating Shoreacres (10-0) by shd, 7 ran.
Thelobstercatcher 2-1 (11-1) Tracked winner until weakened after 6 out, left remote 3rd from 4 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Super Directa (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Gullinbursti (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up in touch, not fluent 4th, headway 3 out, soon every chance, mistake 2 out, under pressure last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Rocky Creek (11-6) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Made all, 1 length up last, stayed on well to draw clear towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Sydney Paget (11-5) by 3l, 6 ran.
The Jigsaw Man (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed between last 2, weakened flat, 11th of 14, 12l behind Module (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
William Hogarth 17-2 (11-7) With winner until approaching 3rd, soon gave up, pulled up before 4th, in a race won by Mountainous (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Extreme Impact 11-1 (10-8) Prominent, led 8th, headed approaching 4 out, soon ridden, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Palace Jester (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
What An Oscar (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd until ducked out the wrong side of marker and ran out after 6th, in a race won by Bellflower Boy (10-13) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Made most to 8th, outpaced when hit next, ridden 2 out, 6th and hit last, rallied flat, went 3rd towards finish, not reached leading pair, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Fox Appeal (11-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Stow 9-2 (10-13) In touch on inside, led 4 out, ridden after next, headed last, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Grabtheglory (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Water Garden (11-2) at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Qroktou (FR) 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, driven and no impression after 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, soon hung right, no impression on winner, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Tullyraine (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct '10.
Global Power (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Always behind, 9th of 14, 28l behind Hildisvini (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Radmores Revenge 14-1 (10-5) Held up behind, headway 4 out, challenged on outside next, ridden and outpaced before next, weakened last, 7th of 10, 19l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.