in touch, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
chased winner virtually throughout, 15 lengths down in 2nd and well held when jumped slowly and reduced to a walk last, finished tired
made all, clear from 2 out, jumped slowly last, finished tired
held up towards rear, headway 14th, chased winner before 5 out until stumbled on bend and soon weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ran in snatches, lost place 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up 5 out
held up mid-division on inner, weakened from 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 10th, weakened from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before last
in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
always towards rear, tailed off from 15th, pulled up 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 15th, in 4th before 5 out, went 3rd before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, virtually pulled up before last, continued to take 3rd
held up towards rear and keen, soon mid-division, lost place 11th, pulled up before 14th
2008 Grand National hero Comply Or Die won this race in the same year. He travelled well for a long way at Warwick last month which suggests he can make the frame today. Minella Boys went close in the same race at Warwick having won at Plumpton before that and he has every chance in this contest, while Giles Cross returned from a three month lay-off with an excellent second to Synchronised in the Welsh National at Chepstow and another bold bid looks likely from him. However, the vote goes to BELON GALE who warmed up for this with a victory in heavy ground over 4m at Hexham in November and looks to have plenty going for him here. Morgan Be runs from out of the handicap but will have come on for his recent reappearance over 3m here and should give a good account.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 6th, headed 3 out, weakening when mistake last, 6th of 15, 32l behind West End Rocker (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Belon Gale (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made all, not fluent 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on, won at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov beating Camden George (10-7) by 8l, 6 ran.
Giles Cross (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Led and keen, clear approaching 3 out, headed and blundered 2 out, ridden and kept on from last, always held by winner, 2nd of 18, 2 3/4l behind Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
Companero (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked winner, lost place from 7th, tailed off from 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Knockara Beau (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Minella Boys (IRE) 4-1fav (10-4) Mid-division, headway 15th, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind West End Rocker (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Flintoff (USA) 15-2 (11-3) Never going well, in rear 4th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th towards finish, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 16l behind The Gripper (10-0) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Ballyfoy (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leader until ridden before 5th, driven and outpaced before 7th, last and struggling next, stayed on to take modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Rebel Rebellion (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, reminders and pushed along 6th, soon lost place, in rear from 8th, pulled up before 17th, tailed off, in a race won by General Hardi (10-11) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Negus de Beaumont (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Towards rear, reminders after 8th, struggling from next, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Cavers Glen (10-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Dawn Ride (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) In rear, pushed along and outpaced before 14th, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 28l behind Always Right (11-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Morgan Be 17-2 (10-11) Towards rear, mistake 4th, driven and outpaced 10th, plugged on from 3 out, chased winner after last, always well held, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Cavers Glen (10-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Overquest 7-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, blundered 13th, headway to chase leaders before 16th, no extra from last, 6th of 14, 12l behind General Hardi (10-11) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
