held up towards rear, steady headway 16th, 3rd travelling well 4 out, went 2nd next, rider delayed challenge until led last, came clear flat
towards rear, mistake 9th, behind and pulled up before 11th
towards rear, behind and pulled up before 14th
mid-division, steady headway to chase leaders 15th, hit 20th, weakened 3 out
in rear, blundered 8th, never involved, tailed off
towards rear, some headway when stumbled 16th, jumped slowly and weakened next, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
chased leader, not fluent and lost 2nd at 11th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
led, headed 15th, chased leader until approaching 18th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden and struggfling before 14th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, behind when pulled up before 14th
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 15th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, lost 3rd and weakened flat
mistake 1st, towards rear, slow 3rd, tailed off 13th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, good headway to chase leaders after 14th, mistake 16th, went 2nd approaching 20th, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, soon outpaced
chased leaders, blundered and weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 14th, behind when blundered 18th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders until lost place approaching 14th, poor 8th and strugging after 4 out, rallied to 3rd flat
towards rear, headway approaching 17th, stayed on same pace from after 3 out
in touch, ridden and lost place 18th, no chance after
in touch mistake 10th, ridden and weakened 16th, behind 18th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
Nonrunner
Tidal Bay is talented-but-temperamental and may get too far behind in the early stages. Deep Purple won over C&D in December but isn't getting any younger while West End Rocker, Rare Bob, Viking Blond and Vic Venturi all failed to complete in the Grand National two weeks ago. Swing Bill got round but was tailed off and the quintet will find this equally as tough. DOVER'S HILL is fancied to strike a blow against the big boys for Mary Hambro's Gloucestershire yard as he's always had plenty of ability and jumped for fun here last month when holding off subsequent Cheltenham winner Ballyfoy and Aurora's Encore, who was only beaten a head in last week's Scottish National having won at Haydock earlier. Any Currency was eighth in the Scottish National and Galaxy Rock pulled up, though Jonjo O'Neill's eight-year-old was one of the few in contention on the home turn and wasn't punished once his chance had gone. An entry here suggests he's made a full recovery and a big run in this wouldn't be a surprise. Roalco De Farges jumped well when winning a novice event at Chepstow after finishing fifth in the Midlands National and is another to consider along with Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai but Major Malarkey's jumping is suspect and stamina may be an issue for Tullamore Dew while the others have a bit to find.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up behind in touch, badly hampered and lost touch 8th, no chance after, stayed on to go well beaten 4th flat, 4th of 8, 20l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs.
Deep Purple 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, blundered 10th and 15th (chair), soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 19th, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
West End Rocker (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Behind, fell 2nd, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
Rare Bob (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) In toch, brought down 5th, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 19th, in 5th before 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-2) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 24 ran.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway after 3rd, chased leaders 4th, went 2nd before 5th, led 13th, mistake and headed 14th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Saint Are (10-13) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd, 14 ran.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Giles Cross (10-5) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Dover's Hill 8-1 (11-11) Chased leader, led after 1st, ridden after last, just held on, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Ballyfoy (10-13) by nk, 10 ran.
Ouzbeck (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, soon behind and not that fluent, stayed on from 5 out, finished well to take 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ikorodu Road (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Swing Bill (FR) 100-1 (10-3) Led 2nd to next, in touch, hampered and lost place 15th (chair), soon behind, no danger after, 10th of 40, well behind Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd.
Vic Venturi (IRE) 80-1 (10-0) Always behind, refused 19th, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
Viking Blond (FR) 80-1 (10-0) In touch when fell 1st, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
Roalco De Farges (FR) 9-5fav (11-5) Took keen hold, held up in touch, headway to 2nd 5th, led next, made rest, clear 2 out, ridden out from last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gs beating Leg Iron (10-9) by 5l, 6 ran.
Enter Paradise (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Salsify (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, not fluent 18th, went 3rd 5 out, hit 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, led approaching next, headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Master Overseer (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Any Currency (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, outpaced before 21st, soon lost place, no danger after, 8th of 24, well behind Merigo (10-2) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Aldertune (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) In rear, headway before 3 out, ridden after last, kept on to chase winner last 50 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Cool Friend (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Knighton Combe 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden to challenge next, led flat, stayed on well, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd beating Fabalu (11-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Ethiopia 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 14th until approaching 17th, left 2nd again after 17th, weakened 4 out, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Sea Saffron (10-0) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Free World (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, reminders after 15th, never a factor, puled up before 3 out, in a race won by Giles Cross (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
