mid-division, struggling when not fluent 10th, blundered and unseated rider next
mid-division, mistake 1st and 6th, headway 7th, hampered 12th, struggling next, mistake 14th, well beaten when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led 5th, headed before next, led 8th, headed 11th, left in lead next, headed 13th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, outpaced 4 out, went left and bumped 2 out, kept on flat, no impression
chased leaders, close 4th 4 out, 3rd from 2 out, no impression on leading pair, stayed on same pace
mid-division, lost place when blundered 2nd, headway 12th, close up 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, mistake 7th, hampered 12th, headway next, mistake 14th, 5th and weakening 4 out, pulled up before next
led 1st until 2nd, led 3rd, headed 5th, led before 6th, headed 8th, led 11th, fell next
held up towards rear, slightly hampered and not fluent 1st, not fluent 5th or 9th, headway 12th, led 2 out, mistake last, stayed on to draw clear flat
soon led, headed 1st, prominent, hampered 12th, mistake and lost place next, bumped 2 out, kept on flat, went 4th towards finish
led early, led 2nd, headed next, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, pushed along before 10th, well behind 12th, pulled up after
never really going in rear, behind when pulled up after 9th
prominent until 8th, well behind 12th, pulled up after 14th
soon pushed along towards rear, last after 9th, hampered and unseated rider 12th
tracked leaders, led 13th, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on
held up in rear, headway from 9th, every chance 4 out, one pace in 4th from 2 out, weakened flat, lost 2 places towards finish
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4th
mid-division, fell 12th
tracked leaders, fell 1st
This is always a real slog but it favours up-and-coming chasers with none of the last 11 winners being aged older than eight, though that stat doesn’t really hold water this time with the race rescheduled. Vicente won the Scottish Grand National in April and ran a cracker on his reappearance at Cheltenham. Chase The Spud’s Haydock victory has already been franked and he beat MYSTEREE and Final Nudge in last season’s Midlands National. But Michael Scudamore’s charge is now 10lb better off for a length-and-a-half defeat and, as he goes well fresh and like the mud, Robbie Dunne’s mount, who has been well backed, could be a blot on the handicap. Despite a slipping saddle, Beware The Bear rallied strongly to beat Bishops Road in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and looks a stayer to follow while Wild West Wind never seems to run a bad race and is a previous course winner. Ask The Weatherman won nine of 10 races between the flags and has only been beaten once under Rules but Vintage Clouds is looking a few pounds too high. The potentially well-treated O’Faolains Boy is also entered at Sandown and might need the run and this looks a big ask for Irish veteran Raz De Maree.
Vicente (FR) 9-2 (10-10) Mid-division, tracked leaders from 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, 2 lengths down when mistake and lost ground last, ridden and stayed on well flat, gaining near finish, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Perfect Candidate (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) In touch, pushed along and outpaced 7 out, ridden before 3 out, headway before 2 out, led run-in, kept on, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec beating Bishops Road (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Chase The Spud 6-1 (11-7) Led after 1st, headed next, with leader, led again 13th, pressed 3 out, drew clear from next, kept on well, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Nov beating Robinsfirth (11-10) by 6l, 8 ran.
Silsol (GER) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 7th, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Sam Spinner (10-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.
Final Nudge (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, soon every chance, hard ridden closing stages, all out, just failed, 2nd of 16, hd behind Present Man (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Pobbles Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In rear, mistake 4th, struggling 10th, behind from 12th, 9th of 12, 23l behind On Tour (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Bishops Road (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Wild West Wind (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 10 out, going well when left clear from 4 out, held on well towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Alfie Spinner (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Raz De Maree (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, left 2nd after last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-1) Led or disputed lead to 8th, tracked leaders, driven to challenge 4 out, soon led and ridden, headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner from last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-8) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Nov.
Ask The Weatherman 10-3 (12-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 12th, effort 4 out, led after next, ridden between last 2, hard pressed flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Castarnie (11-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Mysteree (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 20th, soon not clear run briefly, led 3 out, pressed flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 20, 1 1/2l behind Chase The Spud (10-12) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Soon chased leaders, 5th from 6th, pushed along after 5 out, still 5th before straight, one pace 2 out, 6th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Sizing Codelco (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Buckhorn Timothy 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, lost briefly before last, left in lead last, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Winning Spark (11-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Milansbar (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, reminders before 11 out, pushed along 8 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Wild West Wind (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Led to 10 out, ridden and lost 2nd place from 5 out, left in 2nd next, ridden before 2 out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Wild West Wind (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, lost place 3rd, closed before 5th, slow next, not fluent 14th, effort 15th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
On The Road (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) In touch, wide and headway soon after 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, no impression from next, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Sykes (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway from 2 out, 3rd last, never on terms, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Prime Venture (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Led until 3rd, tracked leader, not fluent 16th, bumped next, led before 4 out, stayed on dourly flat, clear final 100 yards, won at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating West Of The Edge (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
