held up mid-division, not fluent 8th, blundered 17th, soon weakened, pulled up after 4 out
held up, headway 18th, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last
chased leaders, lost place 8th, tailed off
held up, driven along 16th, effort under pressure 4 out, no impression
held up mid-division, headway to go in touch 9th, weakened 16th, pulled up before 18th
tracked leaders, led 4th to 7th, led again 17th, headed after 4 out, collapsed before 3 out
held up mid-division, headway to go prominent halfway, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, lost place from 9th, pulled up after 13th
held up behind, headway to chase leaders 18th, led briefly and going well 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner
with leader until weakened 14th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders to 18th, soon weakened
held up, not fluent, headway to go in touch 18th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 7th to 10th, led again 14th to 17th, led again after 4 out, headed 3 out, soon beaten
prominent, behind from 14th, pulled up after 16th
held up towards rear, struggling from 14th
In the card's big race, Teeming Rain is selected ahead of Lordofourown and Nil Desperandum. Teeming Rain looked as though he was a stayer with a future when winning a National Trial at Punchestown last time and, with his rating of 127 looking more than fair, the Charlie Swan-trained eight-year-old can put up a bold showing today. The Welsh National fourth, Lordofourown, has to be respected, as does last season's Grand National fourth, Nil Desperandum, the pair of them possessing a little bit of class, and much as he has been raised nine pounds for an emphatic Wetherby win, Silver Knight could yet have a little bit more to come. You couldn't rule out a good run from Truckers Tavern, not least based on his Rowland Meyrick effort but, for the selection, we will side Teeming Rain.
Lordofourown (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, jumped right 7th, ridden after 16th, still well adrift before 5 out, stayed on well from 3 out, 4th of 18, 14l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Nil Desperandum (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, left 2nd at 9th until 2 out, weakenend soon after, 4th of 9, 29l behind Exotic Dancer (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Cowboyboots (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 15th, led 4 out to 3 out, soon driven, led flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Garryvoe (11-1) at Stratford 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Silver Knight 5-2fav (11-3) Held up, headway 10th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and drew clear flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Kerry Lads (11-12) by 22l, 10 ran.
Teeming Rain (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) No comments due to poor visibility, won at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs sft beating Dublin Hunter (10-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Truckers Tavern (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 9, 14l behind The Outlier (10-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Calvic (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, towards rear, behind when mistake 8th, behind when blundered 16th, no chance after, 5th of 10, 34l behind Garryvoe (11-1) at Stratford 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
What A Native (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, 3rd halfway, lost place 4 out, no extra after mistake 3 out, 15th of 19, well behind Point Barrow (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up, chased winner approaching 3 out, led after last, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Himalayan Trail (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Devil's Run (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) With leaders, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Bang And Blame (10-6) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 8-1 (9-12) With leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, well behind Huka Lodge (10-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Huka Lodge (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on after 2 out, led towards finish, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Desert Tommy (10-13) by 4l, 9 ran.
Datito (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Towards rear, reminders and mistake 13th, soon weakened, 9th of 14, well behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Chabrimal Minster 10-1 (10-9) Always in rear, weakened from 14th, 7th of 11, well behind Pass Me By (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Skenfrith 40-1 (11-5) Behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Witch Wind (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Led, headed 10th, outpaced 13th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 7, 17l behind Master Sebastian (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
