held up towards rear on outside, headway from 14th, challenging when mistake 2 out, led on home bend, headed just before last, held flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, closed next, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway 8th, ridden and lost place 12th, well behind 14th, pulled up before next
led until 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, weakened normal 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 2nd before 2nd, not fluent 11th (water), mistake 12th, led 2 out, headed on home bend, 3rd and fading when mistake last
held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 14th, weakened after 2 out
2nd early, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, beaten 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, not fluent 13th, hit next and pushed along, modest 8th 2 out, stayed on before last, went 3rd flat, finished well
held up and behind, not fluent 12th, still detached 14th, headway 2 out, led and jumped left last, stayed on, ridden out
Wonderful Charm was ahead of BALNASLOW in a bunch finish to the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham in March and can be forgiven a subsequent run in the Grand National. But the latter has since finished second at Aintree and won the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown. Derek O’Connor takes the reins again on the 10-year-old, who can come out on top this time against his old rival. Man Of Steel is a fast-improving hunter chaser and makes more appeal than Wonderful Charm’s stablemate Rebel Rebellion. Young Hurricane is also in fine form and could sneak into a place at decent odds granted luck in-running while The Wealerdealer would have won at Cheltenham last month in another stride and shouldn’t be ignored.
Balnaslow (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to lead 3 out, ridden and joined next, strongly pressed at last, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, all out, won at Punchestown 3m 1f gf in Apr beating Mendip Express (12-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 1-4fav (12-2) Tracked leaders, fell heavily 11th, at Towcester 3m (6) gf in May.
Man Of Steel (IRE) 5-4fav (12-6) Tracked leaders, joined leader 6 out, led 2 out, soon clear, eased last 100 yards, won at Cartmel 3m 1f (5) gs in May beating Forge Valley (11-12) by 12l, 6 ran.
Master Workman (IRE) 5-2 (12-4) Made all, clear 4 out, unchallenged, won at Fakenham 3m (6) gf in May beating In Fairness (12-0) by 26l, 8 ran.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 11-8 (12-2) Tracked leaders, close up in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Warwick 3m 1f (6) gd in Apr.
Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 2-7fav (12-2) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed 4th, led before 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (6) gd in May beating Back In June (11-12) by 7l, 4 ran.
The Wealerdealer (IRE) 11-1 (12-1) Held up in rear, headway 18th, pushed along 4 out, 2nd after 3 out, close up before 2 out, 3 lengths down last, edged left flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 12, shd behind Barel Of Laughs (12-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in May.
Wild Bill (IRE) 13-8 (12-5) A.p; led 12; comf, won at Brafield-on-the-green 3m gd in Mar beating No Loose Change (12-5) by 6l, 6 ran.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 28-1 (11-2) Always behind, 19th of 40, dist behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Young Hurricane (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) In rear, hampered 2nd, headway before 14th, led 3 out, clear before last, eased run-in, won at Kelso 3m 2f (4) gd in May beating Miss Biscotti (11-8) by 20l, 10 ran.
