towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 12th, no chance when pecked 16th (water), tailed off
chased leaders on inside, jumped slowly 4th, hit 9th, ridden in 4th when blundered 2 out, driven and stayed on into 3rd post
soon towards rear, last and struggling after 11th, tailed off and eased, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway on inside approaching 3 out, soon beaten
towards rear, headway and hit 17th, outpaced next, plugged on, no threat
chased leader who went clear 4th, lost 2nd 7th, chased leaders, weakened 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear when fell 12th
led, clear 4th, pushed along going out on last circuit, reduced lead 15th, headed after 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened into 5th when pecked last
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place before 12th, weakened next
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, 5th and still plenty to do 2 out, closed and went 2nd last, led run-in, driven out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 11th, led after 3 out, clear between last 2, mistake last, headed run-in, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, tracked clear leader 7th, closed 15th, led and hit 3 out, headed before next, chased leader until mistake last, lost 3rd post
chased leaders on outside, pushed along and weakened after 4 out
held up, blundered and unseated rider 1st
NonRunner
These veterans put on a great show 12 months ago and, remarkably considering the youngest runners have just turned 11, the first five are back for another crack. The evergreen Pete The Feat has 6lb more to carry than when successful as a 20/1 shot last year but he was even bigger price when beating a subsequent winner here last month and could run around here blindfold. He was tailed off behind Houblon Des Obeaux in a qualifier for this earlier but was making his comeback so that form can be ignored. Third Intention has had numerous opportunities but has never won over a trip this far but Benbens won over 3m5f here last month, though was earlier beaten 19 lengths behind Perfect Candidate at Cheltenham. Another 4lb rise means the top weight now finds himself back on a career-high mark, however, and he’s best going left-handed. GAS LINE BOY was only fourth last year and is also on a career-high mark but beat younger rivals over a trip too short in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month so arrives in excellent form. Fifth in last season’s Grand National, he can reverse last year’s form with Pete The Feat, Theatrical Star and Loose Chips and come out on top this time. Fox Appeal looks best of the rest as he’s been in good nick this season and is back on a winning mark.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Prominent, tracked leader from 13th, led 3 out, soon ridden, 4 lengths clear after last, just held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Vicente (10-10) by nk, 8 ran.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 9-2fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway on inside 4th, not fluent 14th, hampered 15th, led last, soon clear, stayed on gamely, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Ultragold (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Third Intention (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Always prominent, led before 14th, joined last, headed flat, soon ridden, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Double Ross (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leader until 9th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, blundered next and pulled up, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Benbens (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
No Duffer 16-1 (11-8) Soon towards rear, never involved, pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Mistake 1st, held up in touch, outpaced when not fluent 10th, rallied on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, 2nd approaching next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind The Romford Pele (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Loose Chips 12-1 (11-7) Made most until 11th, chased leader until before 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 6, 24l behind The Romford Pele (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Benbens (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Made all, strongly challenged from 2 out, hard ridden after last, held on gamely towards finish (3 fences omitted), won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Sugar Baron (10-13) by nk, 10 ran.
Buywise (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always behind, 6th of 10, 23 3/4l behind Wild West Wind (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and ran on, won at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Hedgeinator (10-3) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led briefly 1st, prominent, not fluent 11th, outpaced after 5 out, ridden and no chance with leaders after 3 out, plugged on to take remote 3rd after next, tailed off, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Chase The Spud (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Theatrical Star 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 13th, lost place 16th but still in touch, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Pete The Feat (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Vino Griego (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, took closer order 4 out, effort after next, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Grand Vision (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Soon chased leaders, 5th from 6th, pushed along after 5 out, still 5th before straight, one pace 2 out, 6th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Sizing Codelco (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
