prominent and pushed along for much, slight mistake 5th, mistake 11th, ridden in 6th and mistake 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on inner, 7th 5 out, ridden and dropped to 11th 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, mistake 4 out, under pressure in moderate 9th and jumped left 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 4 out, 10th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, ridden at halfway, behind and pulled up before 4 out
in rear, slight mistake 1st, headway into 8th 3 out, improved into 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden, 3rd at last, stayed on well to lead close home
in rear, headway 4 out, 5th next, improved to dispute lead 2 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed at last, disputed lead again inside final furlong, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home
rear of mid-division on inner, headway into 6th 5 out, 4th 3 out, ridden entering straight, soon no impression on leaders
towards rear, last and under pressure after 3rd, no impression from 5 out, tailed off and continued
rear of mid-division, 9th 5 out, 7th 3 out, headway into 4th 2 out, soon ridden, disputed lead before last, led narrowly and mistake at last, joined i final furlong, headed and dropped to 2nd close home
always towards rear, bad mistake 1st, behind and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, dropped to rear of mid-division at 11th, no impression, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders on inner, 2nd and bad mistake 4 out, soon ridden, moderate 5th and slight mistake 2 out, weakened, slow jump at last and pulled up
led, slight mistake 8th, ridden and joined 2 out, headed after 2 out, dropped to 4th before last, no impression
Raz De Maree is rising 15 but has had a great career, winning last year's Welsh National from 15lb higher. He's one of just two distance winners in the line-up, the other being General Principle, who won last year's Irish National here and has competed at a very high level subsequently. His stable have three other runners including last year's Cork Grand National winner Out Sam though THE GATECHECKER was staying on very strongly that day and returned to land this year's version a month ago from Glorious Galway and Aherlow, for which he's been raised 9lb. He gets the nod in a tough race to call as though Ask Susan has never been further than 2m7f over fences she has always looked a staying type and isn't on a bad mark.
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, bumped 5th, dropped to 18th after 12th, no extra and pulled up 5 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
General Principle (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, 4th after 12th, 6th at 17th, 9th 5 out, weakened 4 out, pulled up 3 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Out Sam 16-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, fell 6th, at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
The Gatechecker (IRE) 18-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 6th, 10th when pecked on landing 12th, progress to 4th travelling well 4 out, disputing 2nd when jumped left and hampered rival 3 out, 2nd 2 out, ridden and led before last, kept on well, comfortably, won at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov beating Glorious Galway (9-10) by 7 1/2l, 16 ran.
Prince Of Scars (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) In rear, jumped left 10th and pushed along, no impression before 3 out, hampered last, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Fine Theatre (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, slight mistake 6th and reminders, ridden and no extra before 4 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Westerner Point (10-5) at Clonmel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Killer Miller (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Towards rear, dropped to rear and slightly detached after 4th, took closer order after 8th, left moderate 6th 3 out, moderate 5th after 2 out, kept on in moderate 4th run-in, never on terms, 4th of 11, 13l behind Freewheelin Dylan (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp sft in Nov.
Ah Littleluck (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th after last, no extra, 4th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Castafiore Park (10-5) at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Nov.
Ask Susan (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 1st, progress after 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra before 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 13 1/2l behind The Big Lense (10-3) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
Raz De Maree (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, not fluent 16th, well beaten before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Mon Lino (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra before 4 out, weakened, 13th of 16, dist behind Kilfenora (11-0) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Global Racing (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division on outer early until slow jump at 1st and rider briefly lost iron, soon in rear, no impression from 5 out, never a factor, 13th of 16, dist behind Fruits Of Glory (10-5) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Aherlow (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Chased leaders in moderate 3rd, pushed along and disputing 2nd when hampered 3 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd when slight mistake last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 12 1/2l behind The Gatechecker (10-8) at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Wrong Direction (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leader in 2nd, close up and disputed from 9th, led 5 out, ridden after 3 out, pressed before next, joined last, kept on well run-in, just denied close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind It Came To Pass (12-0) at Cork 3m sft in Nov.
Glorious Galway (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Led and disputed, slight mistake 1st, led 2nd, slight mistakes 8th and 10th, five length lead when brought to stands' side entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed when slight mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression after last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 7 1/2l behind The Gatechecker (10-8) at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
