chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, virtually pulled up flat
prominent until 3rd, chased leaders, mistake 11th (foinavon), struggling 2 out, plugged on from last and went 4th after elbow
chased leaders, pecked 10th (becher\'s), lost place 14th, well beaten before 2 out
held up on outside, closed 10th (becher\'s), mistake next (foinavon), lost place before mistake 13th (valentines), no impression after
jumped left, chased leader from 3rd, led 4 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
hampered 1st, behind, slow 5th, went left next, pulled up before 7th
prominent, not fluent 3 out, close up 2 out, faded and lost after elbow
mid-division, headway 13th (valentines), led 2 out, clear elbow, stayed on well
rear of mid-division, headway 14th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner elbow, lost 2nd post
fell 1st
towards rear, mistake 7th, outpaced after 9th, mistake 14th, stayed on approaching 2 out, no impression on winner elbow, went 2nd post
led, not fluent 12th (canal turn), headed 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off 14th, pulled up before last
Paul Nicholls has won two of the last three renewals so Touch Kick deserves close scrutiny having easily justified favouritism at Fakenham. Flying Angel, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles here, had plenty in hand at Ascot and should make a bold bid to defy his penalty. Kayf Adventure ran well at Bangor considering he lost both front shoes but the soft going on the National course may not suit Gold Present. French raider It's Jennifer is interesting and so is Gwencily Berbas, who was closing on the leaders when brought down at Punchestown. Didero Vallis was pulled up behind Flying Angel at Ascot but needed the run and should do better if here if handling the fences. Twice successful in the Topham, ULTRAGOLD comes alive over these unique obstacles and finished a close second in this race in 2017 when only a pound lower. Form elsewhere can almost be ignored the 11-year-old shouldn’t be far away again.
Gold Present (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Waited with in last trio, good headway tracking leaders 15th, 3rd 4 out, went 2nd before hit 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Black Corton (11-3) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gd in Apr.
Flying Angel (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Jumped right at times, tracked leaders, led 5 out, ridden 2 out, soon asserted, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Sky Pirate (11-2) by 8l, 7 ran.
Ultragold (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Touch Kick (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, ran on, won at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Hepijeu (11-11) by 7l, 6 ran.
Killaro Boy (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led and disputed, in front 9th, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Burtons Well (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Kayf Adventure 11-2 (11-5) Held up, ridden 3 out, headway next, kept on to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Graceful Legend (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Didero Vallis (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, pushed along 6 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up last, at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Hogan's Height (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led until after 5th, chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 11, 18 1/4l behind Same Circus (11-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Gwencily Berbas (FR) 9-2fav (11-0) Rear of mid-division, 6th after 4th, brought down before 4 out, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp sft in Nov.
Beau Bay (FR) 33-1 (12-2) Mid-division, behind when blundered badly and unseated rider 7th, at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
It's Jennifer (FR) (9-13) 2nd of 12, 1l behind C'Est Le Bouquet (11-3) at Auteuil 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
Wishfull Dreaming 14-1 (11-0) Held upon outside, effort from 2 out, went 3rd after last, kept on, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind The Last Day (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Federici 33-1 (10-6) Led to 13th, weakened quickly 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Heist (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders to 4th, held up in touch, struggling in rear 4 out, no danger after, last of 6, 13 1/4l behind Justatenner (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
