held up towards rear, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 19th
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway chasing leaders 14th, weakened after 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner from next
chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out, kept on same pace
led until after 2nd, led again before next, headed 6th, chased leaders, hit 17th, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, led after 2nd until before next, chased leaders, jumped slowly 17th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, struggling when blundered 18th (water) tailed off
in touch in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 13th, stayed on same pace in 5th from 4 out
mounted on course, always towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out, pulled up after next
mid-division until dropped to rear after 13th, jumped slowly and pulled up after next
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 19th, driven along in 4th and stayed on same pace from 2 out
jumped really well, chased leaders, led 6th, made rest, 4 lengths ahead going strongly 2 out, great effort
wore ear plugs in prelims, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 19th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
towards rear, some late minor headway, never on terms
chased leaders, reminders and outpaced 14th, rallied under pressure before 19th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 14th, weakened 17th, tailed off
Henllan Harri carries 9lb more than when successful last year. Theatre Guide, Benbens, Rock The Kasbah, Sugar Baron and The Young Master also make a return visit. The latter won this in 2016 and was well backed in last week’s Scottish Grand National but got rid of Sam Waley-Cohen at the first fence. He’s on a very lenient mark nowadays and Conor Shoemark takes over the reins. Blaklion was also a first-fence casualty last time, in the Aintree National, but will have to shoulder a big weight again. Regal Encore was withdrawn at Aintree on account of the going but beat Minella Daddy at Ascot in February, though is worse off at the weights. Missed Approach is a thorough stayer and won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month, though has been raised 8lb. Bigbadjohn departed at the third in the Topham at Aintree and never seems to run two races alike. RATHLIN ROSE was taken off his feet in the Topham and beaten when falling four out but he has a terrific record here and ran well over an even longer trip in the Welsh National in December. He is racing from out of the handicap in this but that has been no barrier to success in the past. Step Back is the unknown quantity and Mark Bradstock is not one to tilt at windmills so the novice demands respect carrying the minimum weight.
Blaklion 14-1 (11-10) In touch when brought down 1st, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Regal Encore (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 4th, travelling well in 3rd 3 out, led soon after last, edged right run-in, driven out, won at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb beating Minella Daddy (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracking leaders when fell 1st, at Ascot 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Towards rear and not jump well, pulled up before 10th, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Present Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Led to 4th, chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, no chance with clear trio from next, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Red River (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Missed Approach (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Made all, ridden and hard pressed before 2 out, edged right under pressure flat, stayed on gamely, held on towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Mall Dini (11-10) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 18th of 26, 25l behind Bleu Berry (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, fell 6th (bechers), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Domesday Book (USA) 40-1 (11-4) Always prominent, led 14th(water), ridden and headed before 2 out, 3 lengths down last, rallied flat, regained lead near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Pendra (11-12) by 3/4l, 24 ran.
Benbens (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) In rear, mistake 5th, ridden 18th, well behind 20th, tailed off 22nd, pulled up after, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Carole's Destrier 13-2 (11-12) Always towards rear, tailed off before 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 3rd (chair), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, struggling 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 12th of 18, dist behind Coo Star Sivola (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Sugar Baron (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Always behind, struggling 14th, blundered 5 out, never dangerous, 14th of 20, dist behind Missed Approach (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 15, 14 1/4l behind Master Dee (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Step Back (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Jumped well but jumped right, made all, clear 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Fakenham 3m (4) gs in Apr beating Sam Red (11-10) by 16l, 5 ran.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway when fell 4 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Dawson City 7-1 (11-5) Held up in touch on inside, headway chasing leaders outpaced and pushed along in 6th at 17th, rallied from 2 out, kept on run-in, took 2nd last strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Thomas Patrick (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
The Young Master 12-1 (10-3) Unseated rider 1st, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Band Of Blood (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and weakened on long run before 2 out, 6th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Rathlin Rose (10-5) at Ascot 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
