in touch, lost place after 4th, went 5th 11th, 17 lengths off leader 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner flat
prominent, lost place 7th, ridden after 13th, behind 4 out
prominent, led 11th, headed 15th, 12 lengths 4th when not fluent 4 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd close home
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, went 2nd 16th, led next, clear with one rival 4 out, ridden and being closed down before 2 out, headed approaching last where not fluent, no extra
tracked leaders, fell 6th
held up, hit 2nd, not fluent 14th, went 6th after next, hit 5 out, 20 lengths off leader when mistake 4 out, stayed on well approaching 2 out, led before last, driven out
towards rear, hit 11th and 13th, blundered 15th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, jumped slowly and hampered 15th, behind 4 out
held up towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 6th
always towards rear, tailed off 4 out
tracked leaders, hit 1st, mistake 14th (water), hit 5 out, 11 lengths 3rd when not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out
led until 11th, led 15th until 17th, clear with one rival 4 out, ridden and being closed down before 2 out, one pace
mid-division, blundered 1st, mistake 9th, not fluent 13th, mistake 15th, hit 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
Nonrunner
The 2009 Grand National winner Mon Mome is still on the comeback trail while Hennessy third Fair Along always seems to find at least one too good nowadays. RICHARD'S SUNDANCE carries 7lb less than when runner-up in this last year when Etxalar was among the also-rans. He ran well on his reappearance at Wincanton when a place ahead of veteran Hello Bud and also when fourth behind subsequent Welsh National hero Le Beau Bai at Chepstow last month so there seems no reason why he won't go close today. This looks too tough for Prophete De Guye and Runshan, however, while Earth Planet is a weak finisher and Nikola is unreliable. But Mostly Bob and Minella Theatre don't look badly treated and shouldn't be ignored.
Mon Mome (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, ridden and outpaced before 4th, plugged on from last, no chance, 5th of 9, 33l behind Highland Lodge (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Hello Bud (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Made most until hit 15th (canat turn) and unseated rider, in a race won by West End Rocker (10-10) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 20-1 (9-9) Led until 10th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 9l behind The Minack (11-1) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Nikola (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, mistake 1st, ridden 5th, pulled up before 10th (becheers brook), in a race won by Stewarts House (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, under pressure 5 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, moderate 4th, 4th of 14, 32l behind Le Beau Bai (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Mistakes early, held up in last trio, blundered 6th and 8th, outpaced 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 6, 31l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Wogan 9-2 (11-7) Pressed leader, led when mistake 2nd, headed 8th, led again 10th, not fluent 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Invisible Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Held up in rear in touch, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, 48l behind Deep Purple (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Minella Theatre (IRE) 3-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, went 3rd 4 out, no extra when lost 4th final 100 yards, 5th of 8, 5l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Checkerboard (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 14th, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 10th of 13, well behind The Minack (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Etxalar (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, led 9th until 11th, chased winner until next, went 2nd again before 3 out, one pace from 3 out, no impression from next, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Lockstown (10-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Runshan (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led, joined 20th, headed last, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 8, 5l behind Deep Purple (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Le Burf (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, stayed on to go 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Mohayer (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Fair Along (GER) 6-1 (11-2) Led, pecked 4 out, driven and headed 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 6, 12l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Earth Planet (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, effort next, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 13l behind Honourable Arthur (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
