held up, headway 14th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden 2 out, every chance and hung right last, kept on
mid-division, blundered and lost place 10th, behind when blundered 13th, kept on from 4 out, never troubled leaders
behind, outpaced when hit 4 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, led 12th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well flat
in touch, led 3rd, mistake 8th, headed next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 9th to 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, struggling from 10th, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
held up, headway to chase winner 13th to 4 out, soon ridden, no impression
Nonrunner
Le Duc can make the most of the weight concession from It Takes Time, with Scots Grey, Malek and Tribal Venture worth a mention. At the age of six, Le Duc has more time on his side than all of his rivals, and can register his first win since scoring at Cheltenham in January. Since then, Paul Nicholls' inmate has been competing in top company without success, but ran well in the Topham, finishing third under a big weight, and although he has never won over three miles, there is always a first time. Certainly from a class perspective, he has nothing to fear here. It Takes Time has no improvement at the age of 11 and has to give over a stone to the selection, but he was a gallant fourth in the Grand National so we know that he definitely stays this trip and more. We will just have to see whether Aintree has taken the edge off him though. Scots Grey got round to finish fifth in the Mildmay Of Flete, the race in which Le Duc came a cropper, but Nicky Henderson's charge is held by the latter on earlier running there. Malek won off his highest ever mark when landing the Borders National at Kelso and should go well off his light weight in this slightly better class affair, while Tribal Venture should make his presence felt if turning out. An interesting contest can go to Le Duc as long as his stamina holds out.
It Takes Time (IRE) 18-1 Held up towards rear, headway and prominent 5 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 40, 18l behind Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Le Duc (FR) 20-1 Mid-division, steady headway from 4 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 30, 6l behind Cregg House at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs.
Polar Red 100-1 Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 2nd 2 out, weakened approaching last, 13th of 40, well behind Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Scots Grey 20-1 Chased leader, led 11th to next, chased leader from 3 out, close up 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 22, 15l behind Liberthine at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Kock de La Vesvre (FR) 13-2 Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden after 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 20l behind Sleeping Night at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (B) gd.
Malek (IRE) 7-1 Prominent, pushed along 3 out, ridden to chase leader approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in to lead towards finish, won at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Mar beating Ossmoses by 1l, 10 ran.
Hunters Tweed 20-1 In touch to 9th, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Liberthine at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Zaffamore (IRE) 33-1 Mid-division, weakened 14th, soon tailed off, 9th of 16, 43l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Wise Man (IRE) 7-2 Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on again flat, last of 3, 6l behind Classical Ben at Hexham 3m nov hdl (E) sft in Mar.
Tribal Venture (FR) 10-1 Tracking leaders when fell at the 12th in race won by Trabolgan at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
