held up towards rear, headway into 9th 4 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra from 2 out
prominent, disputed lead from 5th, led from 10th, ridden and strongly pressed after 4 out, headed entering straight, soon no impression
mid-division, reminder 4th, closer in 5th 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders early, mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 9th
tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, no impression from 6 out, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, trailing under pressure 8th, pulled up before next
mid-division, mistakes 5th and 6th and then reminder, under pressure when mistake 5 out, behind when pulled up before next
mid-division, no impression from 6 out, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
rear of mid-division, good headway from 5 out, went 4th travelling well next, next, improved to lead after 2 out and soon pushed clear, stayed on strongly run-in, easily
in rear, headway from 4 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, went moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from last
led, joined from 5th, headed 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, slightly hampered 9th, no impression from 6 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on outer, headway from 5 out, 3rd next, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, dropped to moderate 5th 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, pushed along 10th, weakened from 6 out, pulled up after 4 out
in rear, some progress into 8th 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, 2nd 4 out, ridden in 2nd next, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, slightly hampered at 2nd, headway on outer from 5 out, 7th when not fluent next, pushed along to lead entering straight, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on without threatening winner from last
Tom George held an ambition to win this race and duly pulled it off last year with Chartreux. He arrived in winning form that day having scored at Sandown but this time he hasn't been showing much though has probably been aimed at the race again. Grand Jesture was beaten 2l last year when receiving 3lb so he's obviously badly in with the winner though he had been in excellent form subsequently until refusing to race in the Bet365 at Sandown on Saturday. If he consents to behave himself he has to be a threat to all. Mouse Morris has a strong entry with the classy First Lieutenant, who was soon out of contention in the Grand National after early mistakes but is a Grade 1 winner, and RULE THE WORLD (NAP), and it's the latter who is given the nod after a tremendous run behind Thunder And Roses in the Irish National. Gallant Oscar, third behind The Druid's Nephew in a Cheltenham Grade 3, has run some fine races at this sort of level and should be in the shake-up again. The Job Is Right is another to consider despite falling at the first in the Irish National as he stays all day.
Ballycasey (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, brought down 8th (canal turn), in a race won by Many Clouds (11-9) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 39 ran.
First Lieutenant (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Blundered 1st, behind, ridden after 3 out, never near leaders, weakened next, 16th of 39, well behind Many Clouds (11-9) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Rule The World 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd 5 out, mistake 3 out, ridden to challenge last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 28, 4 1/2l behind Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft in Apr.
Toon River (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Always prominent, disputed lead from 7th, led 3 out, went clear and not fluent 2 out, pushed along approaching last stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcap ch sft in Mar beating Treat Yourself (10-5) by 13l, 11 ran.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on otuside, mistake 6th, reminder after 9th, outpaced 5 out, lost place and weakening when unseated rider after 3 out, in a race won by The Last Samuri (10-8) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Aupcharlie (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Prominent, left in lead after 2nd, headed 4th, stayed handy, one pace 2 out, weakened flat, 10th of 23, 10l behind Darna (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Yes Tom (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, blundered 6 out, weakened next, 11th of 29, well behind Wayward Prince (10-1) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
The Job Is Right 14-1 (10-10) Fell 1st, in a race won by Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft in Apr, 28 ran.
Owega Star (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Mid-division, hampered 8th (canal turn), weakened after 3 out, 13th of 39, well behind Many Clouds (11-9) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Gallant Oscar (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, 5th 2 out, switched outside before last, carried right flat, stayed on to take 3rd post, not reach front pair, 3rd of 24, 5l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders to 4th, behind when mistake 10th (bechers), no danger after, 9th of 30, 45l behind Rajdhani Express (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Chartreux (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake 5 out, under pressure when hit 4 out, mistake next, soon weakened, 5th of 8, well behind Creevytennant (11-9) at Ascot 3m hcap ch (2) gs in Mar.
The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, 18th halfway, no extra and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft in Apr, 28 ran.
Ballyculla (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Held up, mid-division when mistake 13th, closed before 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and one pace before last (usual 2 out), weakened flat, 7th of 17, 20l behind Cause Of Causes (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m Listed ch (1) gs in Mar.
Daring Article (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Fell 1st, in a race won by Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft in Apr, 28 ran.
Cootamundra (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Towards rear, 10th halfway, progress 3 out, 4th and slight mistake next, no impression straight, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 10l behind Rubi Light (11-10) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs (10yo+) sft in Mar.
Katnap (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Led, ridden 3 out, strongly pressed next, headed before last, dropped to 3rd and no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Heathfield (10-8) at Navan 3m nov chs in Mar.
Kylecrue (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, soon raced in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, jumped left at times, bad mistake and unseated rider 8th,, in a race won by Never Complain (11-4) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp chs 0-123 gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Archie Meade (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) 2nd when not fluent 1st, raced in 3rd, last before 3rd, closed up from 8th, prominent from 4 out, pushed along from next, challenged 2 out, soon disputed lead, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Rolly Baby (11-0) at Thurles 3m hdl in Mar.
Grand Jesture (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Refused to race and took no part, in a race won by Just A Par (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 20 ran.
Protaras (USA) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along at stages, 12th after 3rd, blundered and reminders 9th, trailing when hampered and pulled up after 6 out, in a race won by Vics Canvas (10-4) at Cork 3m 4f hcap ch sft in Nov, 17 ran.
