held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and headway 18th, chased leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in touch, mistake 10th, headway after 12th, reminder 17th, ridden and weakened 4 out
held up in touch, mistake 2nd, ridden 18th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
led to after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in mid-division, mistake 4th, fell 12th
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, every chance approaching 3 out, 3rd and held when hit last
chased leader, mistake 16th, headway and challenge 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, hard ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
held up towards rear, headway after 18th, ridden and chased leaders approaching 3 out, challenged and led approaching last, driven out
held up last, mistake 9th, lost touch 15th
This will be a real test but there is a good line-up for this race named after the great Desert Orchid; shortlisted are I Hear Thunder, Tribal Dispute and McKelvey, with I Hear Thunder being the selection.. Just three pounds above the mark from which he won this race last year, I Hear Thunder also holds the possible advantage of coming here with a run this season under his belt. He could well provide the answer to this test although Tribal Venture is closely weighted with him based on that seasonal return at Chepstow. McKelvey's Summer National win marked him down as an improver and, still only seven years of age, he looks a leading player today despite his eight-pounds rise for that success. The Welsh National runner-up Heros Collonges is an out-and-out stayer and is respected but he has had his problems along the way and others might be sharper today. If Ebony Light can rediscover the type of form that saw him win last season's Peter Marsh, then he would hold decent claims, and Dead-Eyed Dick can be considered based on his Summer National third. The Scottish National winner Run For Paddy sets a good benchmark for the form of this race and, despite being five pounds above his Ayr winning mark, could go well. Fontwell winner Tanterari looked an improved performer when scoring in a tongue-tie last time and is respected, while Galtee View could well improve in first-time headgear. It all adds up to a good race, one in which I Hear Thunder is selected.
Run For Paddy 33-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, good headway to go prominent approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on to lead post, won at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Ladalko (10-4) by a shd, 30 ran.
Mckelvey (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, mistake 10th, steady headway 16th, ridden 4 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Jul beating Omni Cosmo Touch (10-0) by 2l, 15 ran.
Heros Collonges (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider at the 15th in race won by Numbersixvalverde (10-8) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Ebony Light (IRE) 100-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed 15th, quickly weakened approaching 19th, 12th of 30, 45l behind Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Dead-Eyed Dick (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) In rear, effort 4 out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 10l behind Kings Brook (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, led briefly 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Tribal Venture (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Tribal Venture (FR) 11-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd beating I Hear Thunder (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Tanterari (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Held up, headway after 14th, went 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sept beating Presence of Mind (10-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
