chased leaders, led 8th, hit 14th, headed 19th, weakened after 23rd, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway on outside form 19th, 3rd when mistake 4 out, stayed on same pace form 2 out
prominent, mistake 22nd and 22rd, weakened before 3 out
held up, closed gradually from 20th, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, challenged towards finish, just denied
always in rear, tailed off 20th, pulled up after
mid-division, struggling 22nd, pulled up after
held up towards rear, jumped right at times, not fluent 14th, headway 23rd, never on terms
mid-division, slow 6th, ridden and struggling 9th, pulled up before next
towards rear, some headway after 23rd, well beaten from 4 out
towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 23rd, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
led until before 6th, stayed handy, mistake 23rd, soon weakened
prominent, led 19th, hit 23rd, headed 3 out, 3rd and held flat, stayed on same pace
mid-division, towards rear when pulled up before 21st
always towards rear, well behind 22nd, pulled up after
in rear, mistake 5th, ridden 18th, well behind 20th, tailed off 22nd, pulled up after
prominent, lost a few places 7th, mid-division when pecked 12th, struggling when mistake 22nd, pulled up after
chased leaders, mistake 18th, lost place from next, pulled up before 22nd
chased leaders on outside, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, lost place from 10th, tailed off 22nd, pulled up after
towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 4th flat, stayed on, nearest finish
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 15th and when close up 23rd, led 3 out, hard pressed towards finish, held on
mistake 20th, always towards rear
mid-division, headway 19th, mistake next, 4th and held when mistake last, weakened flat
mid-division, hampered 2nd, pulled up before 7th
unseated rider 1st
prominent, led 6th, headed 8th, lost place 20th
always behind, mistake 14th, pulled up after 18th
held up, in touch when mistake 20th, weakened before 2 out
held up in mid-division, in rear when mistake 13th, tailed off 22nd, pulled up after
NonRunner
NonRunner
Vicente bids to become only the fourth horse to win this three times. He’s been lightly campaigned again this year and should be cherry-ripe so, despite a 6lb higher mark than last year, goes on the short-list again. Ballyoptic was fourth in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last month and beat Vintage Clouds at Wetherby in February. He has untapped potential over this trip and his trainer is seeking a fourth win in the race. Vintage Clouds and Beware The Bear were third and fourth in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham and neither can be ignored but the handicapper has probably reeled in Gold Present for now and stamina could also be an issue with the top weight. Regal Flow has enjoyed a terrific season, beating Silsol when taking the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last time. Alvarado is a teenager now but has a terrific record in this race and also the Grand National at Aintree – he’s only run twice this term and been placed both times. Joe Farrell will need to prove he stays but is still relatively unexposed and looks better treated than Henri Parry Morgan. Gordon Elliott has already won the Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals and run Fagan while Neil Mulholland’s stable is back in form and Doing Fine is a strong traveller and a proven stayer who shouldn’t be far away. But the yard also run THE YOUNG MASTER, who is thrown in on his victory in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown two years ago. Dropped a further 3lb since a fair run at Cheltenham, his first since a wind operation, he’s also helped by Sam Waley-Cohen’s 3lb claim and the drying ground. Looking Well is worth a market check and may be the pick of the remainder, though this race has produced plenty of shock results down the years.
Gold Present (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway 4 out, outpaced before next, never reached leaders, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Vicente (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division on outside, lost place 14th (water), soon behind and struggling, blundered 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Behind, not fluent, in 5th before 3 out, headway before next, one pace, 4th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Might Bite (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, not fluent last, switched right and stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Presenting Percy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m sft in Mar.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along when mistake 13th, soon lost place, behind 4 out, 11th and plenty to do 3 out, ridden and stayed on to take 4th closing stages, no chance with leaders, 4th of 18, 9l behind Coo Star Sivola (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Fagan 13-8fav (11-5) In touch in rear, left close up in 4th at 12th, tracked front pair 4 out, close up on outside next, soon driven and outpaced by front pair, 5 lengths down in 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Black Corton (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Not fluent 2nd, held up, always behind, 8th of 15, 25l behind Master Dee (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Led until 2nd, led 6th, mistake 13th, ridden before 2 out, headed just before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 16, 21 1/2l behind Rathvinden (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Regal Flow 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, closed from 6th, 2nd before 15th, led before omitted 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar beating Milansbar (11-10) by 10l, 18 ran.
West Approach 33-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in last trio, chased leaders 3 out, one pace before next, never on terms, ridden and weakened last, 6th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Shattered Love (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Silsol (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slow 4th, ridden and outpaced after 16th, stayed on into 3rd before 2 out, no impression, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 18, 15l behind Regal Flow (11-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led narrowly, headed 15th, reminder after 4 out, ridden after next, went 3rd before last, kept on, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 18, 6 1/4l behind Coo Star Sivola (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Get On The Yager 9-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 14th, 8th normal 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 18, 29 1/4l behind Regal Flow (11-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Henri Parry Morgan 6-1 (11-7) In touch, took closer order 8th, led 10th, headed 5 out, regained lead 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Apr beating Jennys Surprise (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Benbens (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place before 10th, tailed off 14th, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Looking Well (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway after 20th, led 2 out, 2 lengths up when ducked left and unseated rider last, at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Cogry 11-1 (10-9) Chased leaders to 15th, soon behind, no danger after, 11th of 18, 34 1/2l behind Coo Star Sivola (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
Indy Five (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Led, clear from 5 out, blundered 4 out, headed towards finish, finished tired, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Takingrisks (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Prominent, led 3rd, pressed from 15th until went 2nd lengths ahead last, stayed on, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Boric (10-13) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Doing Fine (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, under pressure 5 out, raced wide and headway after 3 out, kept on well closing stages, never able to challenge, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Benbens (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Joe Farrell (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Took keen hold, held up in touch, headway tracking leaders 7th, 2nd travelling well 14th, upsides when left clear 3 out, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Another Frontier (10-8) by 17l, 6 ran.
Work Du Breteau (FR) 9-1 (11-7) With leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, dist behind Buckle Street (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Pearl Swan (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, 8th of 16, 22 1/2l behind Thomas Patrick (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Glencairn View (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar beating Fitzhenry (11-4) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
The Young Master 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, ridden after 3 out, kept on under pressure from last, not pace to threaten leaders, 6th of 20, 18 1/2l behind Missed Approach (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Alzammaar (USA) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led before 4th, headed before 8th, with leader, mistake 5 out, blundered 3 out, one pace, 4th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Ballycrystal (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) gs in Mar.
Boa Island (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, slow 6th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Mr Mix (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, under pressure 15th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 5 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Racing Europe (IRE) 5-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2 out, challenged last, led narrowly on extended run-in, headed towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Askamore Darsi (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Mysteree (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Always behind, weakened before 5 out, left remote 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 8, dist behind Yala Enki (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Alvarado (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch on outer, 5th when not fluent 14th, rallied into 2nd 3 out, every chance next, ridden and outpaced by front pair between last 2, stayed on to regain 2nd near finish, no impression, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Mister Don (10-11) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
