in touch in 5th, led 8th, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leader early, chased leaders, weakened after 5 out
held up in rear, headway before 8th, lost place 6 out
held up mid-division, outpaced 9th, headway before 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders on outer, went 2nd from 11th, led 3 out, kept on and headed towards finish
tracked leaders, with leader 4th, ridden and weakened from 4 out
led, headed 8th, went 3rd before last, soon ridden and kept on same pace
towards rear, headway from 4 out, went 5th before 3 out, vever dangerous
Nonrunner
GANSEY won this race last year and was placed at Aintree in October off a higher mark than today's. Sue Smith's charge looks capable of a repeat on that evidence and is taken to confirm superiority with last year's runner-up Categorical. The latter arrives in decent form having finished second on his latest start at Ayr where previous hat-trick hero, Best Lover, unseated his rider. The above trio look most likely to be fighting this one out as the remainder have plenty to find with November's Bangor runner-up Mr Syntax, looking the best of them.
Gansey (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up in last pair, steady headway 5 out to next, soon driven and outpaced, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Cappa Bleu (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Best Lover (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft, 7 ran.
Categorical 6-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, held in 3rd before 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Buffalo Bob (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Lord Villez (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up behind, struggling 4 out, never able to reach leaders, 7th of 10, 30l behind Altan Khan (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Mr Syntax (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 10th, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Milo Milan (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Knockavilla (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Nowurhurlin (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy.
Etxalar (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 7, 18l behind Mister Marker (11-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Kosta Brava (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Held up, headway from 6th, hit 8th, 4th and ridden approaching 4 out, no impression from after next, one pace, 5th of 13, 9l behind Tara Royal (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Time Out (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, led soon after, ridden between last 2, drew 5 lengths clear when blundered last, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan beating Polar Gunner (11-9) by 6l, 5 ran.
Storymaker 14-1 (11-11) In rear, behind when pulled up 10th, in a race won by Tyrone House (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
