tracked leaders on inside, effort and every chance approaching last, ridden and one pace when edged right flat, kept on
tracked leader, lost place and reminders 9th, under pressure when hampered 3 out, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division when brought down 3 out
mid-division, lost place 8th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, never troubled leaders
mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 5th, lost place 8th, behind when hampered 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, outpaced 8th, kept on under pressure approaching last, never on terms
held up mid-division on inside, steady headway and in touch when brought down 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged between last 2, every chance last, ridden and stayed on to lead flat, held on
held up behind, headway 3 out, challenged last ridden and every chance when carried left flat, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd near finish
led, ridden and headed narrowly between last 2, rallied to lead again approaching last, edged left and headed flat, kept on, lost 2nd near finish
raced keenly, mid-division on inside, headway and in touch 6th, close up on inside when fell 3 out
held up in rear, outpaced when hampered 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden between last 2, one pace when not fluent last, carried right flat, kept on towards finish
held up mid-division, slightly hampered 3 out, soon tracked leaders, ridden and effort when not fluent last, weakened flat
held up mid-division, headway when brought down 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened
Nonrunner
The reappearance of last season's Grand National winner Don't Push It is sure to attract plenty of interest but AP McCoy prefers stablemate Synchronised though he, too, will probably be back over fences sooner rather than later. Jennie Candlish has done well with Cross Kennon, who had a few of these behind when scoring over a longer trip here last month but Lush Life has his stamina to prove, as has the four-year-old Barwell Bridge. Given his progressive profile last season, we'd like to think there's more to come from DUKE OF LUCCA this time around and the top weight, far from disgraced at the weights when fourth to Big Bucks at Newbury, is given the vote.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leading duo, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, lost 3rd soon after last, 4th of 6, 10l behind Big Buck's (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Raslan 25-1 (11-9) Raced wide, pressed leader, ridden and still chasing leaders 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 10l behind Cross Kennon (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Afsoun (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Always in rear, ridden 3 out, 10th of 13, 30l behind Aegean Dawn (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Synchronised (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up in 5th, not fluent 3rd and next, badly hampered 7th, never on terms after, plugged on from 3 out, 5th of 8, 36l behind Superior Wisdom (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Nov.
Don't Push It (IRE) 10-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 17th, tracked leaders 26th, challenged 2 out, led last, soon ridden, stayed on well to go clear final 100 yards, won at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr beating Black Apalachi (11-6) by 5l, 40 ran.
Buena Vista (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, driven and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Barafundle (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 9-2fav (10-11) Raced on inside, held up towards rear, hit 9th and ridden, headway under pressure before 2 out, closed on leader last, led and hung right flat, stayed on gamely, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov beating Viking Blond (10-10) by 3l, 13 ran.
Lush Life (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened and hit 2 out, 9th of 17, 42l behind Grands Crus (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Barwell Bridge 17-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon edged left and ridden, went 2nd last strides, not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Riptide (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Viking Blond (FR) 13-2 (10-10) Close up, challenged in 2nd 4 out, led approaching 4 out, ridden before last, headed when crossed flat, no extra, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Cross Kennon (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Raced wide, held up in last pair, headway to track leading pair on long run to 6th, 2nd afer 4 out, challenged 3 out, narrow lead 2 out, pressed after, ridden and stayed on to assert close home, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Nov beating Le Beau Bai (11-1) by nk, 8 ran.
Solway Sam 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, kept on same pace from next, never near leaders, 7th of 13, 30l behind The Shy Man (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Quickbeam (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leading trio, went 3rd 6th, ridden to challenge 3 out, stayed well there under pressure until weakened between last 2, 6th of 12, 23l behind Barafundle (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
First Stream (GER) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, led after 2 out, edged right, hit last and headed, not pace of winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Viva Colonia (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Ackertac (IRE) 9-2fav (10-6) Held up in early stages, headway to chase leaders 8th, challenged in 2nd 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 13, 11l behind Cross Kennon (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Total Submission 33-1 (11-0) Chased leader, blundered 4th, lost 2nd after 3 out, one pace and no impression soon after, 4th of 8, 13l behind Champion Court (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Tasheba 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, reminder 6th, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Grands Crus (10-10) at Haydock 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
