held up in touch, struggling 6th, soon ridden and lost touch, tailed off
jumped slowly to 5th, led, headed before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
hampered 1st, tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, led before next, headed last, ridden and stayed on same pace flat
raced keenly, held up in rear, effort to chase leaders after 2 out, went moderate 3rd before last, no chance with leading pair
held up behind, headway and in touch 3rd, effort to chase leading pair 2 out, soon outpaced, lost 3rd before last, no extra
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, headway to track leader 2 out, led last, ridden and stayed on flat
tracked leader, challenged 3 out to next, soon ridden and weakened
Don McCain's Mwaleshi was made favourite for his debut in an Aintree bumper but ultimately disappointed when 15th of the 19 runners and, while clearly having shown ability at home, he looks best watched on his first start over hurdles in a race taken to go to REBEL SWING, who is preferred to Weetfromthechaff. The last mentioned looks the pick of the two runners in the race trained by Maurice Barnes having shown signs of ability on the flat and over hurdles, although he has yet to win a race under any code but he is the mount of Michael McAlister and looks the better fancied of the two runners from the yard. Barnes is also represented by Piccolo Pride but he has only been placed once from 13 career starts under all codes so is hard to back with any confidence despite the good form of the stable. Micky Hammond's Heart Of Dubai was good enough to win a maiden on the flat at Leicester in June 2008 but has seemingly gone downhill since then, although he made a pleasing first start over timber at Sedgefield last month so cannot be discounted but a better bet looks to be Rebel Swing. Sue Smith's gelding was nothing out of the ordinary on the level from limited opportunities with Willie Muir but he is sure to have been well schooled by new connections and may be worth chancing first time out.
Beano Boy 66-1 (11-3) Mid-division, behind final 7f, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Lovey Dovey (11-1) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs.
Daraybad (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Held up and mistakes, blundered 10th, weakend next, tailed off when pulled off after 4 out, in a race won by Sea Venture (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Heart of Dubai (USA) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 12l behind Twentynineblack (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Mwaleshi 4-1fav (11-2) Held up mid-division and keen, weakened over 2f out, 15th of 19, 50l behind Problema Tic (11-5) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (5) gd in May.
Piccolo Pride 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 6th, no chance when mistake 2 out, mistake last, 9th of 12, 30l behind Crazy Bold (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Weetfromthechaff 40-1 (11-2) Well in touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 3rd, hit 3 out, went 2nd next, led well before last, headed and blundered last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Beat The Shower (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Rebel Swing 8-1 (9-4) Keen, tracking leaders, ridden and close up 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 17, 7l behind Taste The Wine (9-0) at Chepstow 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May '09 (flat).
