held up in 3rd on outside, lost place after 10th, behind from next, no danger after, tailed off
made all, ridden and pressed when edged left between last 2, stayed on well flat
tracked winner, mistake 7th, not fluent 10th, challenged when mistake 4 out and next, soon ridden and lost place, no impression before 2 out, left moderate 3rd last
tracked leaders, went 3rd 3 out, effort next, ridden to chase winner when left in clear 2nd last, no impression flat
held up in touch, ridden after 13th, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out, left moderate 4th last
held up in touch, chased leading pair 13th, went 2nd 3 out, effort next, soon ridden, 3 lengths down in 3rd and one pace when blundered and unseated rider last
held up in rear when pulled up before 9th
Nonrunner
Merigo makes his reappearance having won the Scottish Grand National at Ayr for the second time back in April. He may need this and LACKAMON is preferred. The latter ran really well on his comeback when third at Newcastle last month and can confirm running with fourth-placed Lockstown in the process of winning this. Relax showed good progress over fences last season but was due to run at Musselburgh yesterday and Knockara Beau still appears out of sorts. Blenheim Brook will be better for his comeback run and looks best of the rest.
Merigo (FR) 15-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely to lead towards finish, just held on, won at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr beating Auroras Encore (10-11) by hd, 24 ran.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, jumped slowly 7th, hit 8th, struggling 10th, behind when mistake 15th, pulled up after, in a race won by Balthazar King (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Oct, 19 ran.
Lackamon 9-4 (11-1) With leader, led before 14th, jumped right 4 out, soon headed and ridden, mistake 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Benny Be Good (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Blenheim Brook (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, well behind Across The Bay (11-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Oct.
Lockstown 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, 4th of 8, 7l behind Benny Be Good (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Cavers Glen 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 15th, weakened next, tailed off, pulled up before last, in a race won by Across The Bay (11-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Oct, 9 ran.
Dystonia's Revenge (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Baily Storm (10-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
Relax (FR) 11-10fav (11-1) Jumped right, led after 1st, bumped rival 2nd, ridden and edged right on bend before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in May beating Only Vintage (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
