towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 7th, tailed off 9th, pulled up soon after 11th
mistake 1st, never travelled in rear, tailed off
chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 9th, tailed off
not much room when mistake 1st, towards rear, headway on inside tracking leaders before 5th, 2nd travelling well 3 out, every chance when mistake last, ridden and found little run-in
towards rear, headway into 7th approaching 4 out, plugged on in modest 6th next
led until 4th, chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, pushed along before 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
towards rear, steady headway 9th, plugged on in modest 5th before 4 out
mid-division on inside, weakened 10th, tailed off
driven and struggling after 7th, always towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders on outside until lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off and eased before 4 out
mid-division, reminders after 11th, soon weakened
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, 3rd next, led approaching and good jump last, clear when edged right run-in
prominent, led 4th, jumped right from 4 out, ridden and pressed before 2 out, headed before the last, 3rd and one pace run-in
prominent, chased leader 6th until 3 out, chased leading pair until next, one pace and no impression in 4th between last two
Nonrunner
Shrewd Investment won this last year and though not in the same kind of form recently he looks certain to get involved again. However, he faces a stiff task against AERIAL and Tataniano with the former's fitness advantage likely to prove crucial. Will Biddick rode Jack Barber's charge in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham and, though making a few mistakes, they performed with credit. Successful twice between the flags going into that race, he'll find this task rather less daunting and the formerly useful Paul Nicholls nine-year-old can gain his first success in this sphere. The champion trainer also had Tataniano when he won the Grade 1 Maghull at Aintree in 2010 and though those days are long gone he's unlikely to have lost all of his ability, though he has a long absence to overcome. It's difficult to make a case out for the remainder though Joker Choker will enjoy the quicker ground better than most.
Whispering Jack 100-1 (11-13) Last pair, struggling in rear after 8th (water), tailed off and pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Twirling Magnet (11-13) at Newbury 3m hts chs (6) gd, 9 ran.
Himalayan Express 33-1 (11-11) Prominent, not fluent 8th, mistake 4th, no extra before last, 5th of 10, 16l behind Pentiffic (11-13) at Warwick 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd.
Sustainability (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Chased leading pair until after 13th, weakened before 5 out, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bobs Law (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hts chs (6) gs, 10 ran.
Aerial (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Held up, not fluent 2nd, headway before 17th, not fluent 3 out, no further impression on leaders, 7th of 24, 30l behind On The Fringe (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) sft.
Ambitious Pursuit (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Chsd ldrs til wknd 2 out, 4th of 9, 12l behind Dicky Bob (12-0) at Lamerton 3m ptp gd.
Checkerboard (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) No hdwy 15, 6th of 11, 34l behind Cock Of The Rock (12-0) at New Forest 3m ptp gf.
Delta Borget (FR) 6-1 (12-0) (cp) chsd ldrs til outpcd 2 out, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Kostaquarta (12-0) at Wilton 3m ptp gf.
Joker Choker (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, soon lost place, rallied 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 12, 22l behind El Mondo (11-5) at Leicester 2m hts chs (6) gs.
Lets Get Serious (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Always in rear, tailed off, 8th of 10, 49l behind Bobs Law (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hts chs (6) gs.
Louis Pasteur (IRE) 8-1 (12-5) Held up; hdwy 12; ev ch last; nt qckn flat, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Roseyroo (11-7) at Blackmore & Sparkford Vale 3m ptp gs.
Mon Chevalier (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 15; no ex 2 out, 4th of 8, 12l behind Kostaquarta (12-0) at Wilton 3m ptp gf.
Moscow Chancer (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, not always fluent, in touch when mistake 11th, 5th and no impression before 4 out, one pace, 5th of 14, 21l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Tataniano (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden along and outpaced 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Captain Chris (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f lst chs (1) sft in Jan '14, 6 ran.
The Donserelli 14-1 (11-0) Led til ur app 2 out, in a race won by Third Chance (11-0) at Mendip Farmers 3m ptp gd, 5 ran.
Shrewd Investment 6-1 (12-1) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, went 2nd before went left 5th, lost 2nd approaching next, chased leaders, blundered 6th, mistake 7th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Penmore Mill (12-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd, 8 ran.
Risky Cry (FR) 16-1 (12-0) (tt) rap hdwy 12; wknd 15; pu 3 out, in a race won by Wee Saxon (12-0) at Dart Vale & Haldon Harriers 3m ptp gs, 12 ran.
