in touch in mid-division, closed 4th, led next, headed 7th, led 10th, mistake and headed 14th (foinavon), stayed on same pace approaching elbow
chased leaders on outside, lost place before 6th, closed 8th, mistake 10th, struggling 14th (foinavon), tailed off from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway when hampered 15th (canal turn), stayed on same pace from last
held up towards rear, headway 15th (canal turn), ridden before 2 out, no extra before elbow
soon behind, jumped left and mistake 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went never dangerous 5th after elbow
towards rear, slow 3rd, behind when bad mistake 6th (chair), pulled up before 8th
prominent, led after 3rd until not fluent 4th, led 7th, headed 10th, pecked 13th (becher\'s), weakened before elbow
soon prominent, led 4th, headed next, lost place 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
led until after 3rd, led 14th, mistake 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra elbow
chased leaders, lost place 11th, mistake 16th (valentines), tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, hampered 1st, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out
in touch in mid-division, mistake 11th, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, hampered 1st, headway 15th (canal turn), outpaced and no impression after 3 out
front rank when fell 1st
held up in rear, fell 2nd
in rear, mistake 6th (chair), behind 12th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd before elbow, unable to get to winner, stayed on
fell 1st
This is a valuable Grand National trial with last year’s winner WALK IN THE MILL finishing fourth in the big race in April. Robert Walford’s charge is clearly at home over these unique fences and could be on target for a repeat only 4lb higher after a pipe-opener at Ascot. Vieux Lion Rouge was second last year and also goes well around here. He made a winning reappearance at Chepstow before a run over hurdles at Cheltenham and shouldn’t be far away again. One For Arthur has won a Grand National but this trip will seem like a sprint nowadays to Lucinda Russell’s out-and-out stayer. Vintage Clouds fell at the first here in April so there might be a confidence issue but Definitly Red had excuses when pulled up in the 2017 National and still has plenty of class. Le Breuil won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March under Jamie Codd but this is a big ask for Alpha Des Obeaux and Ballyoptic was a faller here 12 months ago. This is probably a bit too far for As De Mee while Mulcahys Hill may lack the experience for a race like this but Kimberlite Candy has a good strike-rate and Richie McLernon is riding at the top of his game.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Led, slight mistakes 3rd and 5th where joined, ridden 3 out, soon headed, dropped to 4th 3rd next, soon no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Road To Respect (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Close up, not fluent 4th, driven after 5 out, left behind from next, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Lostintranslation (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f (1) gs in Nov.
Definitly Red (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden before 4 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 25 3/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Le Breuil (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, jumped slow 6th, soon lost place, tailed off, pulled up, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
One For Arthur (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, under pressure 11th, headway to chase leaders approaching omitted 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Mysteree (10-6) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, soon struggling in rear, 5th of 7, 28 1/4l behind Mysteree (10-6) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division on outside, headway after 6th, lost place 3 out (usual 4 out), outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened flat, 9th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Golan Fortune (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Mulcahys Hill (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Always prominent, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to challenge flat, led closing stages, all out, won at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Oct beating Wholestone (11-5) by nk, 8 ran.
As De Mee (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Raced wide, pressed leader, led after 6th, headed after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and outpaced turning in, weakened flat, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Golan Fortune (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Abolitionist (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, soon no impression, 6th of 7, 32 1/4l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders 9th, weakened before 17th, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place 13th, beaten when hampered 3 out, 6th of 10, 22 1/2l behind Wandrin Star (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wandrin Star (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 13th, chased leaders next, outpaced 4 out, rallied 2 out, left in 2nd last, soon every chance, stayed on gamely to lead close home, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Beau Du Brizais (11-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Like The Sound (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Led, driven and headed before 2 out, lost place before last, weakened flat, last of 9, 13 3/4l behind Rapper (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Ballydine (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mistakes, held up in mid-division, some headway 15th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Mysteree (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, headway to chase leader 9th, led approaching omitted last, stayed on strongly (4 fences omitted), won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Dandy Dan (11-4) by 8l, 7 ran.
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, impeded 6th, 13th after 12th, no extra and pulled up before 16th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Regal Flow 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced 3 out, rallied from 2 out, 3rd flat, no impression towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind King's Odyssey (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
