held up mid-division on outer, ridden and weakened before last
held up mid-division on inner, headway before 4 out, chased leaders before 3 out, mistake last, no extra last 100 yards
in rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, switched right soon after, kept on to take 5th place near finish
tracked leaders and keen, quickly pulled up before 3rd
mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, soon tailed off in rear, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before and hampered last when weakening
in touch, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
towards rear, weakened from 4 out, tailed off from before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, kept on from last, weakened towards finish, lost 3 places near finish
chased leaders, soon settled in mid-division, headway before 3 out, switched right before last, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well
with leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened after last
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, in 5th and looking held when fell last
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, lost place after 5th
led, blundered 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, kept on and lost 2nd place close home
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden after last, kept on to take 2nd close home, no impression on winner
held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, soon pulled up
Nicky Henderson has won this for the past two years with Eradicate and has both Aintree winner Lifestyle and once-useful chaser Petit Robin near the head of the handicap with useful novice All The Aces also taking his chance. Others look better treated, however, including RED MERLIN. He travelled strongly in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last time but didn't pick up approaching the last. Jason Maguire will have to hold him up for a late run but should find plenty of cover in this big field and he could be a bit of value to recoup losses as he won on heavy ground on the Flat. Charm School was just behind Donald McCain's charge at Ayr and should be prominent again while Conquisto has returned from a lay-off in fine form and could reverse Aintree running with Lifestyle - he holds Dream Esteem on that effort. The ground may be too soft for Taunton winner Caravel, however, and the four-year-old Secret Edge has had hard races at Cheltenham and Punchestown recently. Paintball and Arab League could be the pick of the remainder.
Lifestyle 28-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, hit 2 out, went 2nd before last, led run-in, edged left last 100 yards, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Conquisto (9-13) by 1l, 21 ran.
Dream Esteem 9-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 4 out, headed flat, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 21, 3 1/2l behind Lifestyle (11-2) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Petit Robin (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 10, 45l behind Raya Star (11-6) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Ubi Ace 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway 4th, ridden before 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 14th of 21, 30l behind Lifestyle (11-2) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Paintball (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In touch, clipped heels and stumbled soon after start, mid-division, weakend before 4 out, 18th of 21, well behind Lifestyle (11-2) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Saphir River (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 21, 12l behind Attaglance (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Arab League (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Led until narrowly headed 3rd, pressed leaders, led again before 2 out until 2 out, led again last, driven and stayed on flat, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Gibb River (11-7) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Secret Edge 25-1 (11-0) Prominent in chasing group, closer in 4th into straight, struggling when bumped approaching last, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 7l behind Hisaabaat (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Apr.
Ruler Of All (IRE) 22-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Celestial Halo (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Conquisto 7-1 (11-2) Led, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Den of Iniquity (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Red Merlin (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway on inner 3 out, ridden run-in, weakened final 100 yards, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Raya Star (11-6) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Ifyouletmefinish (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) In touch, driven to hold place when not much room after 2 out, soon lost place, weakened last, 15th of 26, 16l behind Alderwood (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Tonic Mellysse (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not much room 3rd, headway on outside approaching 3 out, ridden in 4th and no impression last, 4th of 11, 11l behind Captain Sharpe (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Caravel (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 2nd, not fluent 5th, challenged 3 out, edged right on bend and soon left clear, very easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) fm in Mar beating Run Along Boy (11-4) by 11l, 5 ran.
All The Aces (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous, 10th of 21, 27l behind Attaglance (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Charm School 6-1 (10-3) Led, headed before and blundered badly last when weakening, 5th of 10, 8l behind Raya Star (11-6) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Double Ross (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Led, pushed along before last, edged right, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Sainglend (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Tony Star (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, close 4th when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 5th of 20, 7l behind Hada Men (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Dreambrook Lady (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, headway when slightly hampered just after 2 out, went 3rd before last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Une Artiste (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Apr.
Makbullet 2-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, went 2nd 7th, led on bit last, very easily, won at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Boruler (11-5) by 6l, 10 ran.
