raced wide, tracked leader, led 3rd, headed and switched left before 5th, chased leader until before 9th, chased leaders, hit 15th, went 2nd again 5 out until hit 4 out, battled on gamely to take remote 3rd approaching 2 out
always behind, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up after 5 out
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd before 4th, led next, headed and lost 2nd 5 out, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, soon outpaced, no chance after
led until 3rd, chased leader until before 9th, chased leaders out wide, not fluent 13th (water), went 2nd again 4 out, bit closer when hit 2 out, ridden and well held before the last
in rear, jumped slowly 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
mid-division out wide, weakened 5 out, tailing off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 5 out, soon outpaced, rallied into remote 4th approaching 2 out
off the pace and always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on inside, mistake 7th, headway chasing leaders after next, pushed along and weakened after 5 out
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd before 9th, led 5 out, clear before 3 out until ridden before next, went clear again before the last, stayed on strongly
held up in rear-division, steady headway tracking leaders 16th, disputing 2nd 4 out until before next, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out
Frodon, with Bryony Frost doing the steering again, can race off the same mark as when landing this premier handicap 12 months ago and another bold bid is expected, though the top weight is in the veteran stage now. Threeunderthrufive also represents the Nicholls yard and he was fourth in the Scottish Grand National when last seen in April while The Big Breakaway would have a chance on his second in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow last December. Certainly Red won twice over course and distance last season but strong traveller ASHTOWN LAD can make a winning reappearance. He got taken off his feet when favourite for the Topham at Aintree on his final start last season but had impressed over the National fences in the 3m2f Becher Chase previously and Tristan Durrell claims a handy 5lb here.
Frodon (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Lined up out wide, chased leaders and raced wide, tracked leader 3rd, led 5th, pushed along and headed 3 out, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened quickly between last two, 9th of 16, 34 3/4l behind Kitty's Light (10-8) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Sam Brown 9-1 (11-12) Led, headed 6th, remained prominent and led again 4 out, pushed along and 2 lengths clear when fell 2 out, at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
The Big Breakaway (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Mid-division, badly bumped and fell 2nd, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, close up 4 out, driven 3 out, held before last, stayed on, 4th of 18, 6 1/4l behind Kitty's Light (11-0) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Courtland (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, never a factor, 6th of 11, 13l behind Jetoile (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 13-2fav (11-1) Mid-division out wide, pushed along and weakened rapidly from 16th, pulled up before 17th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Certainly Red 10-1 (10-10) Off the pace in last pair, some headway past beaten rivals run-in, never involved, 7th of 16, 17 1/2l behind Kitty's Light (10-8) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led, soon headed and raced in second, not fluent 4th, hit 11th, soon ridden along and struggling, tailed off after 3 out, last of 3, 34l behind Complete Unknown (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Oct.
Gustavian (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Led, not fluent 6th, headed when fell 2 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Blackjack Magic 9-4 (11-10) Made virtually all, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Apr beating Real Stone (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Forward Plan (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, blundered 8th, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner, mistake last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Sail Away (11-8) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
