held up and behind most of way, tailed off
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd 8th until 11th, handy 3rd when fell 5 out
mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out where mistake, blundered and weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway on outside under pressure 2 out, kept on same pace in 5th run-in, never on terms
mid-division out wide, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, no chance after
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 9th
chased leaders out wide, pushed along before 5 out, weakened quickly soon after, behind and pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, led 3rd until 5th, lost 2nd at 8th, 2nd again 11th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 11th
chased leaders, slightly hampered 5 out, ridden before next, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, travelling well in 3rd before 4 out, ridden and plugged on run-in
towards rear, tailed off when blundered 14th, never on terms
towards rear, pushed along before 13th, tailed off and pulled up after 16th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and went 4th after 2 out, plugged on
mid-division until unseated rider 13th
behind, headway under pressure before 3 out, ridden and reached for 2 out, soon weakened
jumped well, led until 3rd, in front again 5th, made rest, clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly
Beware The Bear hasn’t run over fences since fourth in this last year but is 10lb better with runner-up The Conditional having been beaten under a length and he did a nice piece of work here a couple of weeks ago. The latter just beat Kildisart in the Ultima at Cheltenham in March, with Vinndication a close fourth and five lengths ahead of Aye Right when chasing home Cyrname in the Charlie Hall subsequently. Harriet Graham’s raider is now 7lb better off so has every chance of turning the tables, however. Kildisart and Mister Malarkey are closely matched on Aintree form last year and entitled to run well while Potterman was headed right on the line in the Listed Badger Beers at Wincanton three weeks ago and is 6lb better off than when seven lengths by Secret Investor earlier at Chepstow. He’s a stronger stayer than the latter and represents good value if the rains stay away. Copperhead is also respected after a pipe-opener over timber but CLOTH CAP, placed in the Scottish Grand National as a six-year-old, looked to be coming to hand when third to Frodon at Cheltenham and has just sneaked into the handicap so gets the vote. Black Op chased home Champ at this meeting last year so could be fairly treated along with front-runner Two For Gold.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, shuffled back but still in touch 1oth, pushed along and lost ground 11th, adrift 13th, pulled up before 14th, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Vinndication (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Led to 1st where not fluent, held up behind leaders, slow 2nd, still close up when pushed along before 4 out, ridden to chase leader 2 out, kept on well flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Cyrname (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Secret Investor 11-4fav (11-2) Led, jumped right 4 out, extended lead under pressure before last, ran on strongly, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Potterman (10-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden before 7th, behind 2 out, hampered last, kept on flat, 8th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Skandiburg (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Kildisart (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and close up before 2 out, outpaced before last, faded flat, 3rd of 8, 11 1/2l behind Roksana (10-7) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Copperhead 12-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, led narrowly 3rd, awkward 6th, headed before 8th, not fluent 4 out and ridden, rapidly lost ground before home turn, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Regal Encore (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leader until 5th, stayed handy, led 2 out, pressed last, stayed on well and holding 2nd final 100 yards, won at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct beating Whatmore (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Aye Right (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Close up, led after 1st, joined 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, kept on before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Cyrname (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Mister Malarky 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, led 10th, headed next, led 14th until 16th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 14, 25 1/4l behind Regal Encore (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Black Op (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Close up, lost ground 4 out and pushed along, driven before 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 6, 4 3/4l behind Imperial Aura (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Nov.
Two For Gold (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Prominent, led 2nd, headed 4th, led 6th, jumped right 4 out, headed before last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Huntsman Son (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
The Conditional (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, effort on inside when hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, all out towards finish, just held on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Kildisart (11-3) by nk, 23 ran.
La Bague Au Roi (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Held up, midfield 4th, chased leaders 11th, ridden and no extra from 3 out, 5th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Cyrname (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Always towards rear, weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 31 1/4l behind El Presente (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Jumped left, bumped badly and unseated rider 1st, at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Potterman 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, left in 5th place next, stayed on from next, kept on well run-in to lead final 125 yards, headed final stride, 2nd of 13, shd behind El Presente (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Ardlethen (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, still in rear but in touch 4 out, driven and no extra 2 out, 5th of 6, 12 1/4l behind Imperial Aura (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Nov.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, slow jump 16th, close up 3 out when ridden, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 15 1/2l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
