held up towards rear, some headway approaching 8th, ridden and no impression from 3 out
held up towards rear, brought down 6th
held up, driven along from 8th, kept on and no impression from 3 out
held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division when brought down 6th
in touch, reminders after 4th, driven along approaching 8th and soon lost place
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
always prominent, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 8th
held up in touch, led on bit after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace
always behind
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on to take 2nd flat
chased leaders when fell 6th
in rear, pushed along after 7th, headway 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
in touch, quickly weakened and pulled up after 7th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 4 out
held up and mistakes, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on from last
Plenty of the field come into the finale for day-two of the Aintree Martell Cognac Grand National Meeting with solid claims and a shortlist is hardly an apt description for those in with chances. However, the vote of confidence goes to Emotional Moment in the hope that he will be sent off at a fair price and the Irish raider is fancied to reverse recent Cheltenham form with Mughas, who is obviously respected but has plenty on in giving weight away all round today. Keepatem is another that makes the tip over from Ireland and has to be considered as he has only had a light campaign this term. Mouse Morris' charge, along with his stablemate, Rostropovich, ran a cracker in this race last year and both make more appeal than Carlovent, who is dropping in the ratings after some indifferent performances since last April. Not too many of the rest can confidently be ruled out either but the lightly weighted Master Trix, with the in-form Timmy Murphy in the saddle, can go well for each-way players as he arrives her as one of the least exposed in the field with only seven previous starts over hurdles to his name up to press. However, as Emotional Moment has plenty of experience over both hurdles and fences, he is given a slender vote of preference. The Tom Taffe-trained gelding possesses a good turn of foot and has the ability to quicken through most types of ground - factors that will stand him in good stead, if as expected, Emotional Moment is pushed all the way to the line in an ultra-competitive finale.
