tracked leaders, left close up 3rd 4 out, outpaced next, soon beaten, weakened 2 out
made all, driven and hard pressed from 2 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on gamely flat
tracked winner, challenged 2 out, outpaced when switched right between last 2, challenged again and every chance last, ridden flat, kept on, held near finish
tracked leaders, close up 3rd and every chance when fell 4 out
tracked leaders in 5th, hit 5th and 9th, left 4th 4 out, went 3rd soon after, outpaced next, no chance with leading pair from 2 out
always in rear, struggling 9th, left remote 5th 4 out, tailed off
MONET'S GARDEN has been a revelation around Aintree in the past and with a small field in opposition, he has the opportunity to bully his field into submission and land a third Old Roan Chase. Albertas Run rounded off a fine season last year with success in the Melling Chase. Granted, he had our selection behind him on that occasion, but he has traditionally tended to improve over the course of a campaign. Tartak has always been highly thought of but can make the odd blunder when it is least required. Barry Geraghty has selected Poquelin today and at seven years of age, Paul Nicholls inmate is entitled to improve despite having raced frequently. Imsingingtheblues makes a debut for David Pipe whilst Watch My Back won well at Doncaster last term but this is a stratospheric switch up in class.
Albertas Run (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, hit 5 out, led approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on well from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr beating Forpadydeplasterer (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Led, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Albertas Run (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Poquelin (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Prominent, lost place 7th, in rear from next, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Albertas Run (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
I'msingingtheblues (IRE) 6-4 (11-12) Held up last, in touch, headway to go 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, led narrowly last, hard pressed flat, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 4, shd behind Panjo Bere (10-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Tartak (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 5l behind Albertas Run (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Watch My Back 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along 8th, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr, 16 ran.
