tracked leader, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, rallied 2 out, no extra flat
led until 2nd, remained prominent, weakened 4 out, tailed off from next
held up in rear, mistake 17th, headway approaching 3 outm ridden to challenge next, stayed on strongly towards finish, just held
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th and 6th, led after 4 out, strongly challenged from 2 out, all out, held on well
held up in rear, jumped slowly 14th, not fluent 16th, mistake 19th, soon beaten, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Any Currency is expected to line up at Aintree but Tempo De Cotte should take his chance and is surely better than he showed on his UK debut at Plumpton, though didn't have a great strike rate in his native France. GOLAN WAY is a bit of a law unto himself but he has undoubted ability and has won three of his seven starts over fences. He goes well fresh and may just be worth risking here with neither Fortification nor Major Malarkey exactly reliable and Lively Baron beaten off this mark at Bangor last month.
Golan Way 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, mistake and led 2nd, headed 6th, led again next, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Michel Le Bon (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Fortification (USA) 8-1 (11-12) Disputed lead until 5th, chased leader, blundered 7th and next, reminder and lost 2nd 15th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Any Currency (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 14th, behind when blundered 18th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr, 19 ran.
Lively Baron (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 10th, driven to lead 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Tempo De Cotte (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, one pace until weakened before last, 4th of 9, 11l behind Broadbackbob (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Any Currency (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, no extra in 4th before last, 4th of 16, 14l behind Monbeg Dude (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
