chased leaders until mistake and lost place 15th, rallied under pressure from 2 out, hit last, stayed on flat
led to 12th, ridden 14th, lost place after 16th, tailed off 4 out
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, hard ridden to chase leaders before 2 out, driven to challenge last, led flat, driven and kept on gamely
towards rear, hit 19th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, driven and one pace from next
mistake 2nd, in rear, ridden and hit 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always struggling in rear, tailed off when blundered 19th
chased leader, led 12th to 3 out, every chance until weakened flat
mid-division, in touch when blundered 14th, under pressure and weakened after 4 out, well behind when blundered 2 out
in touch, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, headed flat, lost 2 places near finish
in rear, struggling 5th, tailed off from 10th, pulled up and collpased after 12th
in touch when fell 7th
towards rear, mistake 6th, hampered next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up approaching 2 out
towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 8th
mistake 1st, chased leaders, blundered 6th, lost place 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
chased leaders, hit 14th, went 2nd 15th to 4 out, stayed prominent, hit 3 out, rallied under pressure flat, went 2nd near finish
towards rear, some headway 18th, never reached leaders, beaten before 3 out
Yet another National on the calendar and this is not short on competition with HELLO BUD given the nod over Kilbeggan Blade. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained selection looks to be in the form of his life after recent wins at both Kelso and Fontwell. Stamina is very much his forte, having won over 4m at Hexham in March. Soft ground suits and if there is a concern it is another 8lb rise for that latest win. Even so, his front-running style might well get them on the stretch here and he will stay on right to the end. Kilbeggan Blade is partnered by A P McCoy and he took advantage of a significantly lower hurdles mark to win at Towcester on his reappearance. It is time to get serious today but even with the champ on board he looks to have a tough enough task at the weights. See You There looks a leading player based on two recent soft-ground wins on the stiff Carlisle circuit, and a 6lb rise looks very fair. Tana River won this a couple of years ago and loves these conditions. He won't be stopping but he is 7lb higher now and a veteran and a place in the money may be his best hope. Eric's Charm is 8lb higher than his best win and has a tough task trying to concede weight all around. A better proposition looks to be Nine De Sivola, who is rated highly by Ferdy Murphy. He will love the ground and this extreme test of stamina and can get heavily involved.
Eric's Charm (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Led, blundered 3rd, headed 5th, blundered 14th, mistake 4 out, weakening when unseated rider 4 out in race won by Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Tana River (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, chased leader, hit 6th, led approaching 15th, headed approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven out flat, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Oct beating I Hear Thunder (10-5) by 4l, 8 ran.
Kilbeggan Blade 4-7fav (10-9) Always prominent, not fluent 4th, led approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Toby Belch (11-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Rambling Minster 9-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, never on terms, 6th of 16, 27l behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 11-8fav (11-2) Held up, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Will Be Done (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Joaaci (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, weakened 17th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Hello Bud (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Made all, driven and hard pressed 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, held on gamely, all out, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Monzon (9-13) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Without A Doubt 40-1 (10-0) Disputed lead, led after 4 out, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 19, 10l behind Monkerhostin (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Bowleaze (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pecked 12th, disputed 2nd 14th, led after 19th, stayed on well from 2 out, ridden out, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating Alfadora (9-11) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Blue Splash (FR) 4-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, bad mistake and lost place 8th, not recover and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Eric's Charm (11-1) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Apr, 18 ran.
Leading Authority (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden 17th, soon no chance, 4th of 12, 33l behind Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov.
See You There (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Held up, headway 13th, stayed on to lead last 100 yards, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Idle Talk (11-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Dr Hart (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon dropped into mid-division, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 13, 19l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Sporting Rebel (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Prominent, chased leader 9th, led approaching 10th, shaken up, chased leader 2 out, easily, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar beating Zacharova (11-6) by 13l, 9 ran.
L'Aventure (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, hit 8th, ridden and steady progress on 17th, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Mister Apple's (FR) 11-1 (9-7) In touch, mistake 9th and 14th, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 17, 22l behind Hoopy (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Nov.
