prominent early, chased leaders, lost place 5th, headway 11th, lost place again before 13th, closed 17th, went 3rd 2 out, went 2nd before elbow, stayed on, no impression on winner
held up towards rear, struggling when hampered 10th, blundered 12th, behind when pulled up before 15th (canal turn)
held up towards rear, steady headway from 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, clear before elbow, stayed on strongly
tracked leaders, lost place before 16th (valentines), weakened 3 out, remote 8th 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 10th
held up towards rear on inside, mistake 9th, headway before 14th, struggling 17th, disputing well held 6th 2 out
mid-division, mistake 5th, fell 10th
prominent on outside, mistake 9th, lost place before 15th (canal turn), behind when pulled up before 17th
in touch, not fluent 6th (chair), blundered badly and lost place 15th (canal turn), pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led 11th, headed last, edged right and dropped to 3rd before elbow, one pace
prominent, slow 1st, driven 10th, soon lost place, pulled up before 16th (valentines)
made most until 11th, mistake and losing place 17th, disputing well held 6th 2 out, blundered last, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place before 4th, slow and behind 9th, pulled up before 10th
in rear, headway from 15th (canal turn), 5th after 3 out, never troubled leaders
mid-division on inside, headway 6th, went 2nd 14th until before 2 out, 4th and one pace from last
NonRunner
All of the market leaders have form over the big fences. The Last Samuri was second in the 2016 Grand National and third in this last year behind Vieux Lion Rouge and Highland Lodge. The latter won this in 2015 but, along with The Last Samuri and Vieux Lion Rouge, was behind Blaklion in this year’s National. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stayer has the best recent form having run Bristol De Mai to half-a-length in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby so deserves to be favourite, though he’s not as well built as some and not many recent winners of this have carried a big weight to victory. As De Mee won the Grand Sefton on this card 12 months ago and, despite his quirks, seems to like it here. He scored over 3m2f at Kelso in the autumn but was then last at Sandown. We’ll take a chance on Irish raider WESTERNER POINT as, despite his lack of experience over track and trip, he’ll love the forecast heavy ground and kept on well enough over 3m over hurdles last time – Eoghan O’Grady has been careful to preserve his handicap mark this season. Viva Steve ran well in the Kerry National on his reappearance and should enjoy himself around here but despite Vic De Touzaine holding Federici on Carlisle running, he was pulled up next time at Wincanton.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leader, jumped right 1st, dropped to 3rd 3 out, pushed long before next, rallied last, kept on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Bags Groove (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader to 13th, in touch, lost place and struggling 4 out, weakened from next, 6th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Perfect Candidate (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Blaklion 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led next, headed 12th, responded gamely to pressure and challenged last, held close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Bristol De Mai (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 8th, held in 4th 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 8, dist behind Bristol De Mai (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
As De Mee (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked front pair, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, never on terms, lost place and weakened from last, last of 4, 14 1/2l behind Might Bite (11-7) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gs in Nov.
The Young Master 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 5th, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Lord Windermere (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Mistakes early, held up behind, headway 19th, chased leaders 4 out, switched outside before 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace from last, no impression, 7th of 40, 27 3/4l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Goodtoknow 9-1 (12-1) Tracking leader when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Viva Steve (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 3rd after 10th, closed up before 12th where slight mistake, slightly impeded 4 out, disputed 4th into straight, one pace approaching last, 4th of 18, 6l behind Potters Point (10-5) at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Led to 5th, in touch, lost place 22nd (2nd bechers) weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, disputed lead briefly 5 out, headed next, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before last, at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Westerner Point (IRE) 9-4fav (10-6) Tracked leaders on outer, 4th halfway, pushed along entering straight, headway to lead last, ridden and kept on run-in, headed closing stages, 2nd of 14, hd behind Folsom Blue (11-1) at Clonmel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led until before 6 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off, moderate 5th, 5th of 8, 33 3/4l behind Sir Mangan (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Portrait King (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, struggling after 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Federici 9-2 (11-6) With leader, led narrowly before 5th, made rest, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gamely when hard pressed flat, going away closing stages, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Cooking Fat (11-7) by 3l, 6 ran.
Vic De Touzaine (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
