towards rear, headway before 5 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression
led to 10th, soon lost place, in rear and pulled up before 11th
close up, left in lead 13th, headed 6 out, led before 2 out, soon clear
tracked leaders, led 10th, fell 13th
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, towards rear and hampered 13th, led 6 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, refused
prominent, weakened 15th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, weakened before 5 out, left remote 3rd before 2 out
Blaklion was only second in this last year and is 9lb higher. He’s probably improved again since but his main target is the Grand National itself in April so connections won’t want to give him a hard race today giving the best part of a stone and upwards to some useful stayers. Silsol finished fifth in the Welsh Grand National when the returning Mysteree was pulled up but Wild West Wind was leading that day until falling and may come out best of that trio today. Three Faces West was another to hit the deck last time but he’s one of six previous course winners in this. THE DUTCHMAN is another having galloped all the way to the line over an extended 3m1f last time. Colin Tizzard’s stable is back in form and the eight-year-old may be able to shrug off a hike in the ratings, though Daklondike shouldn’t be ignored as he looks the type to relish a test like this and wears the same colours as last year’s winner.
Blaklion 7-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, clear before elbow, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Dec beating The Last Samuri (11-12) by 9l, 15 ran.
The Dutchman (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Led, headed after 1st, led 4th, headed before 10th, led 14th, kept on strongly from last, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Captain Redbeard (11-1) by 13l, 13 ran.
Yala Enki (FR) 7-1 (11-12) With leader, fell 1st, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Three Faces West (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Led until fell 12th, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Silsol (GER) 28-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, outpaced 4 out, went left and bumped 2 out, kept on flat, no impression, 5th of 20, 16 3/4l behind Raz De Maree (11-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Wild West Wind (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led 1st until 2nd, led 3rd, headed 5th, led before 6th, headed 8th, led 11th, fell next, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Sir Mangan (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 16th, outpaced 18th, well beaten from 4 out, hampered 2 out, 6th of 13, 30 3/4l behind Milansbar (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Mysteree (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) In rear, pushed along before 10th, well behind 12th, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Daklondike (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outside, reminders after 16th, went close 2nd 3 out, soon challenging edging left, led and edged left run-in, stayed on well, driven out, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Grand Vision (11-10) by 3l, 9 ran.
