prominent, led 6th, headed 3 out, weakening when mistake last
led until 6th, ridden in 5th approaching 16th, weakened next, behind 18th, pulled up after
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, ridden after 15th, weakened 16th, pulled up after
held up in rear, inconvenienced by loose rail before 13th, headway 16th, ridden next, closed to chase leaders after 3 out, disputing 3rd last, no extra final 100 yards
prominent, ridden and outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up after
held up in mid-division, headway from 6th, mistake 10th, challenged 4 out, led after next, hit 3 out, driven out
always in rear, well behind approaching 16th, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway 15th, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, always just held
mid-division, struggling approaching 16th, tailed off
mid-division, ridden after 15th, behind when pulled up before next
towards rear, ridden after 4th, not fluent 7th, behind 14th, pulled up before 16th
tracked leaders, ridden along 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, hampered 14th, some headway when hit 16th, stayed on under pressure to chase leaders after 3 out, disputing 3rd when blundered last, no impression on leading pair
in rear, behind when pulled up before 11th
prominent, not fluent and lost place 4th, soon in rear, tailed off before 16th, pulled up after
Stamina will be at a premium in these conditions so former Grand National winner Comply Or Die can't be left out of calculations along with Hello Bud, winner of the Scottish National in 2009 and back to form over 3m2f at Aintree in the autumn. Incentivise and Bobby Gee are both chasing hat-tricks but upped in grade now, while West End Rocker and Minella Boys enter the argument on respective wins over marathon trips at Newbury and Plumpton. C'Monthehammers won over 4m at Exeter and Richard's Sundance looked to be coming to hand at Cheltenham last time but LE BEAU BAI also has solid credentials. Third in last season's Welsh National off a 4lb higher mark, the eight-year-old's burden is reduced further by Jake Greenall's claim and he has already won over today's C&D - he gets the vote.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 3rd, close up in 3rd until lost place and weakening when hampered 12th, behind when mistake next, (water), tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Hello Bud (IRE) 15-2fav (10-5) Led, headed 3 out, regained lead next, about 3 lengths clear when hit last, soon ridden, hard pressed passing elbow, stayed on well final 75 yards, won at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Nov beating Royal Rosa (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
Companero (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 6th, hit 10th, headed 6 out, remained close up, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Money Trix (11-10) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) sft in Nov '09.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Prominent, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Ashkazar (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Close up, mistake 4 out, went 2nd final 200 yards, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 11l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
West End Rocker (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 12th, challenged 17th, led 4 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure, driven out, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec beating Cornish Sett (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 28-1 (9-9) In rear and keen, good headway on outer to track leaders 8th, weakened after 17th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft, 18 ran.
Minella Boys (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Raced in rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Master Overseer (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Bobby Gee 6-1fav (11-0) Held up in touch, not much room 2nd, not fluent 6th, led 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Mr Big (10-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division and mistakes, reminders after 13th, headway 19th, ridden before 2 out kept on after last, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
C'Monthehammers (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven 8th, went 2nd after next, led 4 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec beating Kitley Hassle (10-7) by 5l, 12 ran.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 41l behind Bobby Gee (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Incentivise (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Mid-division on inside, headway 13th, went 3rd at 15th, chased leader 18th, ridden before 2 out led after last, kept towards finish, just held on, won at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec beating Gilsland (11-9) by hd, 11 ran.
Picture In The Sky (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leading trio, went 2nd 13th, pushed along and about 4 lengths down when blundered badly 4 out, eventually unseated rider, in a race won by Key Cutter (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Pass Me By 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place before 10th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Minella Boys (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 14 ran.
Cannington Brook (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Made most until headed 4 out, driven after 3 out, no impression approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Peveril (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chase (5) hvy.
