close up on inner, pecked 15th, steadily lost place, well behind 4 out
chased leaders, lost place after 18th, tailed off, pulled up approaching 3 out
held up in rear, good headway approaching 3 out, challeneged on inside and every chance next, unable to quicken flat
mid-division, steady headway from 17th, chased leading pair 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon in narrow lead, stayed on strongly
never going well in rear, mistakes 12th, 16th, soon well behind
towards rear, brief effort into mid-division 15th, soon lost place
mid-division, blundered 6th, pulled up before 14th, lame
disputed lead, under pressure approching 4 out, weakened soon after
mistakes, behind, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 16th, headway from 3 out, stayed on from next, not pace to troubled leaders
chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led briefly next, chased winner after, one pace flat
never going well in rear, well behind 4 out, tailed off, pulled up last
disputed lead, advantage after 4 out, mistake, headed 2 out, weakened before last
chased leader, steadily lost place from 19th, soon well behind
mid-dvision, headway from 3 out, stayed on, not reached leaders
behind, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, no danger
always in rear division
chased leaders, went 2nd 19th, disputed lead 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
towards rear, headway from 3 out, stayed on from next, nearest finish
held up well in rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, not reached leaders
Last week's Scottish National winner Iris De Balme again has to race from out of the handicap and it will not be easy for the eight-year-old to follow up that success after that performance just seven days ago so the vote goes to Royal County Star, who gets the vote ahead of Ungaro. The last mentioned again ran well when chasing home Cloudy Lane at Doncaster last month and should be thereabouts if staying this longer trip. Lothian Falcon had his final preparation for this over hurdles at the same meeting at Doncaster but faces no easy task from out of the weights proper, while Henrietta Knight's Racing Demon is far from certain to stay this far. Paul Nicholls relies on Hoo La Baloo, who is another doubtful stayer, while Bewleys Berry, who will have no problem with the trip, tends to reserve his best form for Aintree. The vote then goes to Tony Martin's Royal County Star who found just Hear The Echo too good in the Irish National last month and he is taken to go one better today.
Racing Demon (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) In touch, jumped right 2nd, reminders and lost place 7th, behind from 3 out, 6th of 9, 15l behind Our Vic (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Knowhere (IRE) 66-1 (11-11) Mid-division, blundered badly and unseated rider at the 25th in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd, 40 ran.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, lost place approaching 5th, gradually weakened, 5th of 6, 40l behind Tamarinbleu (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Monkerhostin (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by An Accordion (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Ungaro (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, outpaced 13th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Cloudy Lane (11-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, 9th of 14, 28l behind Stan (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Bewleys Berry (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway to lead after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 40, 30l behind Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd.
D'Argent (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Raced wide, chased leaders until blundered badly and fell 4 out in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd, 40 ran.
Royal County Star (IRE) 6-1jt-fav (10-4) Held up, headway into 6th after 6 out, 2nd travelling well after 4 out, jumped left 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 2nd of 23, 12l behind Hear The Echo (10-0) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs gs in Mar.
Royal Auclair (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 16th, mistake 27th, ridden, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 16, 36l behind Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Caribou (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, ridden 4 out, joined leader 3 out, led 2 out, hard pressed, held on gamely, won at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar beating Preacher Boy (11-3) by a nk, 14 ran.
Without A Doubt 2-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, rallied gamely flat, held near finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Bowleaze (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Preacher Boy 6-1 (11-10) Prominent, left in lead 14th, headed 16th, lost place when hampered 4 out, stayed on again approaching last, 4th of 11, 10l behind Le Duc (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Lothian Falcon 15-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, no impression approaching last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Star Beat (9-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Pak Jack (FR) 7-1jt-fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway 9th, in touch when fell at the 12th in race won by Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd, 29 ran.
My Immortal 14-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, 10th of 16, well behind Island Flyer (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Burntoakboy 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 18th, hampered 4 out, chased winner 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 19, 7l behind Gaelic Gift (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Burren Legend (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, hit 8th, headway 12th, with leaders when hit 17th, soon weakened, slightly hampered 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Le Duc (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs, 11 ran.
Iris De Balme (FR) 66-1 (9-7) Held up, steady headway 20th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd beating Halcon Genelardais (11-12) by 14l, 24 ran.
