chased leaders early, soon dropped into mid-division, struggling and outpaced from 12th(canal turn), headway before 2 out, kept on run-in, kept on well to take 2nd place towards finish
held up rear division, headway from 4 out, ridden in 10th before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, no impression
held up mid-division, headway 11th, blundered 14th, ridden to chase winner after elbow when soon not much room, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up mid-division, fell 13th (valentines)
slowly away, behind, fell 10th (Bechers)
held up mid-division, blundered 9th, behind when blundered 12th (Canal Turn), tailed off
in touch, blundered 6th, went 2nd at 12th (Canal Turn), led before 15th, blundered last, ridden and headed before elbow, no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led to 2nd, close up, ridden before last, led before elbow, held on well
mid-division, unseated rider 3rd (The Chair)
always towards rear, tailed off from 12th (Canal Turn), pulled up before 2 out
prominent, fell 6th
towards rear, blundered 3rd,(The Chair), blundered 13th (Valentines), soon struggling, tailed off
led from and jumped left 2nd, headed before 8th, ridden before last, kept on run-in
mid-division, headway before 7th to chase leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden and every chance last, weakened run-in
towards rear, blundered 11th, never dangerous, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, in touch when unseated rider 7th
close up early, blundered 3rd (The Chair),soon dropped into mid-division, weakened from 11th, tailed of and pulled up before 2 out
close up in 4th, ridden before last, kept on run-in
chased leaders, in touch when hampered slightly 7th, soon lost place, weakened after 3 out
in touch, unseated rider 9th
held up mid-division, headway before 5th, chased leaders 12th (Canal Turn), weakened before 2 out
always behind
towards rear, fell 10th (Bechers)
held up mid-division, led before 8th, headed before 15th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway before 5th, chased leaders next, lost place from 3 out
close up early, blundered 12th (Canal Turn), in touch when blundered 13th (Valentines), soon lost place
towards rear, blundered 3rd (The Chair), struggling from 12th (The Canal), never dangerous
NonRunner
Only two of the last nine winners of this have started bigger than 13/2. ON THE FRINGE (NAP) is bidding for a hat-trick for JP McManus and Enda Bolger and Jamie Codd rode him last year when he only had to be pushed out to beat Dineur, who looks to have been laid out for the race again, and Mendip Express, who is also back for more. Pacha Du Polder was only sixth that day but he was given a superb ride by Bryony Frost to win the Foxhunter at Cheltenham last month, though the selection was arguably given plenty to do that day when a staying-on fourth - he’s likely to be much closer to the pace over this shorter distance. Balnaslow was an honourable fifth in the Foxhunter and will again have the excellent Derek O’Connor doing the steering. Poole Master has won over the National fences in the past and arrives off the back of a victory at Warwick. Broken Eagle is a prolific winner between the flags and Loch Ba could be the type to take to these fences.
Balnaslow (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Led, blundered 12th, joined after 4 out, headed when mistake last, soon ridden and lost place, no extra, 5th of 23, 3l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 7-2 (12-4) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 9th, led again 6 out, headed after 5 out, led again 2 out, headed before last, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 8, 10 3/4l behind Wonderful Charm (12-4) at Haydock 3m (3) gs in Feb.
Big Fella Thanks 11-10fav (12-8) Chased leaders, took closer order 8th, every chance from 3 out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Man Of Steel (12-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f (6) hvy in Feb.
Black Thunder (FR) 20-1 (12-0) Towards rear of mid-division, in touch 11th, lost place when hit 17th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
Broken Eagle (USA) (12-7) Walked over, won at Ampton 3m gd in Mar
Damiens Dilemma (IRE) 5-2 (12-7) Led til hdd aft 3 out; stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Eco Warrior (12-0) at Friars Haugh 3m sft in Mar.
Darwins Fox (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) In touch, lost place 8th, headway before 4 out, led last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m (5) sft in Mar beating Delta Borget (12-6) by 7l, 7 ran.
Decade Player (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) (tt) made all; unchall, won at High Easter 2m 4f gd in Mar beating Can Mestret (11-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Dineur (FR) 3-1 (12-3) Held up behind, headway after 12th, went 2nd before 5 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Vasco Du Mee (12-3) at Chepstow 3m (6) sft in Mar.
Distime (IRE) 3-1 (12-4) Mid-division, lost place before 10th, soon struggling, ridden and headway under pressure 4 out, stayed on to take modest 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 13, dist behind Persian Snow (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) sft in Feb.
Fitz Volonte 20-1 (11-12) In rear, mistake 1st, soon outpaced, pushed along 12th, went remote 3rd before 3 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 5, dist behind Toby Lerone (12-6) at Towcester 3m (6) sft in Mar.
Flash Garden (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 2nd from 3 out, ridden before last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Knocklong (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f (6) sft in Mar.
Loch Ba (IRE) 1-2fav (12-2) Tended to jump left, edged left and hit 5th, soon clear, reduced lead 10th, clear again after 14th, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Carlisle 2m 5f (5) hvy in Mar beating Wind Of Hope (11-12) by 13l, 4 ran.
Mendip Express (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Chased leaders to before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 23, 21 3/4l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 9-2 (12-4) Led 1st, headed before 7th, led 11th, headed after 15th, switched left before 4 out, led again 3 out, clear last, pushed out, won at Ludlow 3m (5) sft in Feb beating Mendip Express (12-4) by 4l, 4 ran.
Mr Moss (IRE) 40-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, weakened 6 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Persian Snow (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) sft in Mar.
Never Complain (IRE) 11-8fav (12-0) (cp) a.p; led 11; jnd post, won at Charing 2m 4f gd in Feb beating Horizontal Speed (12-0), 9 ran.
On The Fringe (IRE) 11-8fav (12-0) Held up behind, headway into mid-division after 10th, driven to chase clear leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, rallied on inside last, stayed on well final 100 yards, not reach leaders, 4th of 23, 2 1/2l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
Pacha Du Polder (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, went 3rd after 3 out, challenged on inside after next, ridden to lead last, hard pressed inside final 100 yards, just held on, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar beating Wonderful Charm (12-0) by nk, 23 ran.
Poole Master 9-2 (11-12) Took keen hold, tracked leader on inside, led 6th, headed before 10th, challenged after 12th, led last, ridden out, won at Warwick 2m 4f (6) sft in Mar beating Mon Parrain (12-6) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Premier Portrait (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Never better than mid-division, towards rear from 10th, tailed off, 18th of 23, dist behind Pacha Du Polder (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 9-4fav (12-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, mistake 13th, soon beaten, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Galway Jack (11-13) at Leicester 2m 7f (3) sft in Feb.
Richmond (FR) 5-2fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd before 5 out, no impression after, kept on, 3rd of 8, 17 1/4l behind Vasco Du Mee (12-3) at Chepstow 3m (6) sft in Mar.
Sam Cavallaro (IRE) 11-1 (12-6) Held up, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Persian Snow (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) sft in Mar.
Sizing Solution (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In rear, went moderate 5th before straight, switched right approaching 2 out where 4th, soon no impression, 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Aupcharlie (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Feb.
Tony Star (FR) 3-1 (11-7) (cp) led 12 til hdd app 15; wknd app 2 out, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Get It On (11-4) at Howick 3m gs in Mar.
Top Cat Henry (IRE) 6-1 (12-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led next, drew clear from 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, comfortably, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f (6) gd in Mar beating Always Tipsy (11-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Vincitore (FR) 80-1 (11-13) Held up, outpaced 5 out, stayed on after 2 out, never nearer, 4th of 8, 22 1/2l behind Galway Jack (11-13) at Leicester 2m 7f (3) sft in Feb.
Moscow Chancer (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, 7th of 13, dist behind Persian Snow (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) sft in Feb.
