tracked leaders, led 2 out, driven out, idled close home
held up in touch in rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along and switched left approaching 2 out, no impression, weakened before last
held up in touch, took keen hold, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, kept on same pace, hit last, no impression
led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, 4th and beaten before last
held up in touch on outside, challenged 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed and not fluent at hurdle, stayed on, held by winner
After finishing fourth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, Plan A was never seen with a chance when tackling his elders for the first time at Aintree. He needs to be held up so this smaller field may not play to his strengths and he also has his fair share of weight for a four-year-old. Bogside won twice at Kelso last season but this easier course may not bring out the best in him while Tout Regulier was tailed off at Ayr last time, though probably needed that run. Exotic Man has struggled in lesser company while Jewelled Dagger hasn't been seen since finishing third in a novice event over C&D last September. It's a while since the latter's stablemate TOSHI got his head in front but he hinted at a revival when seventh at Ayr last time and is now 5lb lower than his last winning mark.
Plan A (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 3 out, effort before 2 out, no impression, well beaten last, 12th of 21, 33l behind Far Away So Close (9-10) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd.
Toshi (USA) 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outer before 3 out, hit last, soon weakened, 7th of 17, 9l behind Remember Now (11-4) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Bogside (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 8, 16l behind Russian War (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd.
Tout Regulier (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened before enxt, 13th of 14, well behind Knight Valliant (9-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Jewelled Dagger (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Time Machine (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Sep.
Exotic Man (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 39l behind Hi Dancer (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
