led to 5th, remained close up, ridden and weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders on inner, on outer and lost place before 4th and niggled along, headway to go 3rd after 7th, chased winner after 5 out, ridden after next, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear and took keen hold, headway from 3 out, went 3rd from next, soon ridden, kept on same pace
with leader, led 5th, ridden clear before last, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
held up towards rear, in rear and weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 3 out, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, kept on, no impression
Despite his fantastic effort at Cheltenham, plenty will want to take on Denman here as he obviously had a very tough race behind Long Run and will surely be feeling the effects. His only previous Aintree run resulted in a fall in this race two years ago when struggling to make an impact on subsequent winner Madison Du Berlais and he's reluctantly overlooked. Nicky Henderson is not taking on Denman again with the Gold Cup hero but is very strongly represented by Punchestowns and CAROLE'S LEGACY and the latter gets the vote with her allowance and AP McCoy's presence tipping the balance. The youngest in this line-up, she was having only her sixth start over fences when just failing to concede 3lb to Bensalem at Cheltenham with the rest well beaten off. Punchestowns was a top-class staying hurdler and though not quite getting to grips with the bigger obstacles he looks a likely type for this and rates a big threat. Nacarat was a long way behind What A Friend in this last year and though useful on his day he generally fails at the highest level, a remark that also applies to Deep Purple.
Deep Purple 10-1 (11-7) Led until narrowly headed 7th, chased leader, led again 11th, mistake and headed next, chased leader until approaching 4 out, weakened and lost 3rd 2 out, rallied to modest 3rd again close home, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Riverside Theatre (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Denman (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, headway into mid-division on outside 4th(water), tracked leaders before 4 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, kept on under pressure, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Long Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Follow The Plan (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 13th halfway, headway into 8th 4 out, improved to 5th 2 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra in 5th when fell last, 15th of 16, well behind Carrigmartin (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Feb.
Nacarat (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 16, 20l behind Quinz (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb.
Punchestowns (FR) 4-6fav (11-7) Patiently ridden and tracked clear leader until 4th, went 2nd again 9th and clear of rest next, pushed along and 10 lengths to find before 3 out, ridden and closed before next, driven to lead just before last, clear flat, won at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb beating Pasco (11-7) by 11l, 4 ran.
Carole's Legacy 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after next, challenged 2 out, kept on under pressure and every chance flat, held near finsh, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind Bensalem (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
