behind, pushed along and reminders after 9th, tailed off 18th, soon pulled up
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway before 19th, weakened before 22nd, pulled up before next
mid-division, pushed along before 8th, reminders 17th, soon weakened, pulled up before 21st
close up, led 20th, headed next, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway before 19th, in 5th before 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 15th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up after 18th
mid-division, headway to go 5th after 9th, led 21st, clear before 4 out, pressed last, headed towards finish, kept on gamely, just held
mid-division, towards rear and reminders after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 21st
mid-division, reminders before 21st, headway to go 7th before 23rd, weakened from 4 out
led, headed 20th, outpaced next, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous
in touch, mistake 5th, not fluent 6th, hit 20th and 21st, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely to lead towards finish, just held on
always towards rear, pulled up before 23rd, tailed off
held up in touch, hit 6th, pushed along before 14th, soon lost place, pulled up after 18th
chased leaders, outpaced before 21st, soon lost place, no danger after
chased leaders to 3rd, soon mid-division, reminders after 9th, reminders before 19th, weakened 21st, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, effort after 5 out, passed beaten horses, never dangerous
towards rear, headway 10th to go mid-division, chased leaders 19th, weakened before 4 out
mid-division, weakened 21st, pulled up next
held up towards rear, headway before 17th, went 3rd before 4 out, in 3rd when pecked 3 out, ridden before last, one pace and no impression on front pair
behind, not fluent 4th, pushed along before 16th, mistake 6 out, plugged on and passed beaten horses from 4 out, never dangerous
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
chased leaders, hit 11th, soon lost place, pulled up after 18th
Nonrunner
Beshabar won this last year, just edging out 2010 winner Merigo, after finishing second in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Harry The Viking is bidding to replicate that achievement and must go well as he has the clear beating of Ikorodu Road on Doncaster running in December. The latter went on to beat Junior at the same track when Benny Be Good and Mac Aeda were well behind. Malcolm Jefferson's charge didn't give his true running that day, however, having earlier impressed at Wetherby. Richie McLernon will be anxious to make up for the heart-break of last week's Grand National and the grey could run well at a big price off a low weight as shocks in this marathon aren't uncommon. Cheltenham runner-up Fruity O'Rooney may have too much weight now and Galaxy Rock will also do well to win this off his current mark, while Walkon has his stamina to prove. But Portrait King will be staying on when others have cried enough having won over 3m4f at Punchestown before landing the Eider at Newcastle and there's a good chance that the longer trip will bring about further improvement in QUENTIN COLLONGES. A proven stayer over hurdles, he's been very lightly-campaigned over fences but jumps well and could have been let in lightly here.
Junior 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside when fell 2nd, in a race won by Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (2) gd, 40 ran.
Benny Be Good 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, steady headway from 12th, went 4th before 5 out, no impression 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 24l behind Ikorodu Road (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Walkon (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway to track leaders 16th, 5th and outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with leaders before next, 5th of 9, 19l behind Bobs Worth (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, lost touch before 3 out, plugged on from next, no chance with leaders, 6th of 14, 20l behind Synchronised (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Fruity O'Rooney 16-1 (10-11) Led, driven after 3 out, ridden next, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 19, 1l behind Alfie Sherrin (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, raced keenly, driven to challenge 3 out, chased winner next, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Golden Call (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Harry The Viking 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair 2 out, ridden and effort between last 2, edged right and left after last, stayed on under pressure flat, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 19, 2l behind Teaforthree (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 10th, stayed on well, drawing clear final 100 yards, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd beating Torphichen (11-8) by 7l, 13 ran.
Ikorodu Road 4-1 (10-8) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, closed from 6th, went 2nd after 16th, not fluent and pushed along 5 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar beating Ouzbeck (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Portrait King (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, in touch 11th, went 3rd at 18th, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed before last, led last 50 yards, kept on well, won at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb beating Posh Bird (10-9) by 3l, 11 ran.
Garleton (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Led until 3 out, soon rallied, jumped right and led again 2 out, drew clear last, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar beating Ballycolin (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 11-8fav (11-2) Led, mistake first, quickened pace 13th, jumped left and pecked on landind 3 out, mistake and headed last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Problema Tic (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Merigo (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Led to 7th, led again 9th, pressed and mistake 4 out, soon headed, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, rallied to regain lead towards finish, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Mar beating Bishops Heir (11-3) by nk, 6 ran.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, soon behind, no danger after, 15th of 23, 33l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Be There In Five (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 7th of 23, 12l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Any Currency (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, reminders 11th, lost place 15th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Midnight Chase (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Our Island (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders before 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 19, 26l behind Teaforthree (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Pettifour (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 17th of 24, well behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Mac Aeda 10-3 (10-0) Held up towards rear, effort and weakend before 4 out, 4th of 6, 44l behind Ikorodu Road (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Abbeybraney (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leader until approaching 8th, chased leaders, led narrowly 10th, joined last, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Master Of The Hall (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f chs (2) gd in Mar.
King Fontaine (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway under pressure after 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 13, 25l behind Golden Call (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Ballyfitz 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division, jumped slowly 12th, hit 15th, mistake and outpaced 19th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 16, 17l behind Master Overseer (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Etxalar (FR) 9-1 (10-4) Prominent, not fluent and lost place 8th, behind 14th, fell 3 out, in a race won by Sound Accord (10-4) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gd, 15 ran.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Tracked winner to 19th, soon outpaced and ridden after 4 out, went poor 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Chamirey (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Captain Americo (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led before 6th, headed 15th, every chance 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Portrait King (11-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
