in touch in 5th, mistake 10th, dropped to rear next, tailed off and pulled up before 16th
chased leader, blundered 7th, went right next, lost 2nd approaching 10th, went 2nd again next, led 13th, headed and weakened rapidly after 17th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
held up in touch in 6th, headway 14th, outpaced after 16th, rallied from 3 out, went poor 4th after next
held up in last pair, hit 14th, went right next, headway to chase leaders 16th, challenged for close 2nd and went left 17th, chance when mistake 4 out, mistake and weakened next, pulled up before last
led, narrowly headed 13th, chased leader, bumped 17th, led again after 17th, headed before next, weakened before 3 out
chased leading trio, slow 2nd, went 3rd 5th, went 2nd approaching 10th until 12th, lost place next, behind when hit 15th, rallied from 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner when lost 2nd post
took keen hold, held up towards rear, smooth headway from 14th, tracked leaders 17th, led approaching 4 out, came clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, driven right out
tended to jump right, chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no impression on winner from next, dropped to 3rd 2 out, rallied to 2nd again post, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Prolific hunter chaser Quotica De Poyans was far from disgraced on his handicap debut at Bangor last month but has been put up 4lb for his troubles. Key Cutter landed a gamble on fast ground at Leicester last time but is also climbing the weights, while it took Towcester scorer Ballyegan 12 attempts to get off the mark over the larger obstacles and he is facing better opposition today. Jaunty Journey came right back to his best when second over 3m6f at Bangor and is short-list material, unlike the accident-prone Leading Contender, but REY NACARADO is surely worth a final chance. He couldn't quite get to Giles Cross in the Southern National at Fontwell last month but the winner went on to run a blinder in the Welsh National and Charlie Longsdon's six-year-old may have an easier time of it here.
Quotica De Poyans (FR) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up in touch, mistake 2nd, headway to go 3rd approaching 8th, not fluent 13th, led 2 out, soon ridden clear, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Chapolimoss (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Den of Iniquity 33-1 (10-6) Held up behind, hit 7th, lost place after 11th, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 14l behind Always Right (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs (2) sft.
Fort View (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, fell 3rd, in a race won by Only Witness (9-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Swansbrook (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Held up and behind, pushed along before 3 out, headway to 4th well before 2 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 18, 19l behind Our Father (11-11) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
General Kutuzov (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always behind, detatched after 12th, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by The Minack (11-1) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft, 12 ran.
Leading Contender (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leadrs until slow 7th (water), soon lost place, pushed along before 9th, towards rear when mistakes 11th and 13th, hit 4 out, plugged on to modest 5th flat, 5th of 13, 46l behind That'lldoboy (10-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Rey Nacarado (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, every chance 3 out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Giles Cross (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Key Cutter (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Led until approaching 9th, chased leaders after, effort 3 out, every chance next, led last, ran on well, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) fm beating Forty Five (11-8) by 11l, 5 ran.
