held up towards rear, steady headway on outside approaching 3 out kept on run-in, went never nearer 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 5 out, soon ridden, 3rd when hung badly left and stayed on same pace run-in, lost that placing close home
held up towards rear, hampered 5 out, never on terms
chased leader, led 8th, mistake and headed 15th, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out
held up and behind, closer on inside when went badly left and fell 4 out
towards rear, blundered 14th and 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 5 out, pushed along before 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division on inside, weakened 12th, behind and pulled up before 5 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 16th, led before 4 out, stayed on strongly
held up and behind, mistake 3rd, never on terms, tailed off
held up and always towards rear, never on terms
mid-division, pushed along and some headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened before hit 2 out
towards rear on inside, tailed off and pulled up before 16th
held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, weakened before mistake next, tailed off
led until 8th, chased leader, led again 15th until before 4 out, chased winner until before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened run-in
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 7th
chased leaders, mistake 9th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 12th, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous after
in touch, closer tracking leaders when blundered 5 out, weakened, behind and pulled up before next
blundered 6th, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division on outside, headway chasing leaders 9th, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before next, one pace and held when hit last
towards rear, blundered badly and almost unseated rider 6th, never on terms after, tailed off
Willie Mullins won this in 2017 with the well-backed Total Recall and sends over easy Limerick winner Cabaret Queen, who will be partnered by Paul Townend, and the once well-regarded Yorkhill. Gordon Elliott saddles Galway Plate winner Borice and the JP McManus-owned Ok Corral, who remains unexposed, spearheads three from the Nicky Henderson yard. Last year’s winner, Sizing Tennessee, doesn’t defend his crown but the four that chased him home 12 months ago are all back for more and runner-up ELEGANT ESCAPE is expected to beat Dingo Dollar, Beware The Bear and West Approach again. The top weight went on to win the Welsh Grand National last season and prove himself a top-class stayer. He made relentless late headway in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on his reappearance and first-time blinkers should aid concentration so he’s preferred to Mister Malarky, who ran poorly at Ascot when behind the enigmatic Regal Encore and eye-catcher On The Blind Side. De Rasher Counter was a progressive novice and will be all the better for a run over hurdles so can’t be ignored.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to chase winner run-in, always well held, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Never going and tailed off in rear, blundered 12th, pulled up before 15th, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, steady progress 9th, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, slight lead last, narrowly headed towards finish, led post, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jun beating Killaro Boy (10-6) by ns, 15 ran.
Yala Enki (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on outside, blundered and lost place 6th, outpaced and struggling from 15th, hampered before 2 out, passed 2 rivals flat, 7th of 16, 29 1/2l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Yorkhill (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, jumped left throughout, progress into 5th entering straight, closer behind leaders 3 out, ridden in 4th next, no extra before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Robinsfirth (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead after last, all out, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gd in Feb beating Ramses De Teillee (11-5) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Ok Corral (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-division, behind from 15th, mistake and hampered 17th, never near leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Mister Malarky 8-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, blundered 10th, weakened 4 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
On The Blind Side (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up and behind, headway 2 out, stayed on to take 4th flat, nearest finish, 4th of 16, 10l behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
De Rasher Counter 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, close up when mistake 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 20 3/4l behind Sirobbie (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Le Musee (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Never travelled in rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, reminders after 6th, tailed off when mistake 12th, pulled up before next, at Perth 3m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Daklondike (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, closer tracking leaders 5th, headway on outside into 3rd between last 2, went 2nd and awkward last, hung left and no impression run-in, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Borice (FR) 9-1 (10-2) Pushed along briefly early and mid-division, a little slow at 2nd and 5th, 10th halfway, headway from before 2 out, led on stand's side inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul beating Black Corton (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 22 ran.
Cabaret Queen 8-1 (9-12) Soon disputed lead, led from 7th, still travelling smoothly straight, quickly asserted, stayed on well, easily, won at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Oct beating Spider Web (10-8) by 13l, 16 ran.
Two Taffs (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In rear, headway from 3 out, ridden and kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind The Worlds End (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Dingo Dollar (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led, pushed along and joined 3 out, headed before next, chased leader until approaching 2 out, ridden and hung left between last 2, plugged on in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 5 1/4l behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
West Approach 11-4jfav (11-1) Held up in rear, smooth headway on long run before 2 out, shaken up between last 2, led flat, driven clear closing stages, ran on, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Achille (10-6) by 3l, 7 ran.
Some Chaos (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked winner, mistake and lost place 4 out, in touch, driven after 2 out, soon ridden, no extra before last, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 27 1/2l behind Ramses De Teillee (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (2) hvy in Oct.
Joe Farrell (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, took closer order on outside 7th, mistake 10th, went 2nd 13th, led between last 2, ridden after last, kept on, headed and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Regal Encore (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Shantou Village (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Mid-division early, 9th after 3rd, 10th from 10th, closed from before 4 out, effort to dispute 2nd at last and mistake, soon unseated rider, at Listowel 3m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Walt (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up, landed awkwardly 3rd, headway and close up 10th, pressed leader 4 out, ridden to lead next, pressed run in, stayed on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Brother Tedd (11-9) by nk, 8 ran.
The Conditional (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, headway on inside turning in, not fluent 2 out, soon challenged, led last, ridden out flat, held on under pressure, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating West Approach (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Commodore (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed approaching last and slipped on landing, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Graceful Legend (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
