held up mid-division, blundered 8th, pushed along before 11th, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, pecked 15th, one pace and no impression
held up towards rear, headway 14th, chased leaders before 2 out, weakened and hit last
held up mid-division, headway before 12th, led 15th, ridden after last, headed before elbow, kept on and no impression final 150 yards
in touch, went 3rd before 2 out, every chance last, kept on one pace run-in
led to 15th, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, went 2nd at 10th (bechers), pecked 15th, weakened next
chased leaders, stumbled and unseated rider 1st
in touch, weakened before 8th, behind when pulled up before 10th
chased leaders, led before elbow, soon ridden, stayed on strongly final 150 yards
towards rear, headway 12th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
in touch, mistake 9th, weakened 10th, fell 13th
towards rear, struggling from 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 13th
held up mid-division, ridden and in 7th before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up in touch, ridden before 16th, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden after last, one pace
chased leaders, weakened before 9th, mistake 11th, never dangerous
always towards rear
held up mid-division, in touch when fell 9th
in rear, struggling from 9th, soon tailed off
towards rear, headway 9th, chased leaders before 12th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway before 10th, weakened before 15th
towards rear, struggling from 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, weakened after 3 out
towards rear, ridden before 2 out, kept on from last, no impression
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, soon towards rear, jumped right 5th, tailed off when pulled up before next
Always Waining bids for a hat-trick in this tough handicap over the National fences and, though 5lb higher than last year and below par lately, has to be respected as these unique obstacles clearly bring out the best in him. Willie Mullins usually has one laid out for the race and Apt Approach has already won twice at Thurles and once at Tramore this season. Chance Du Roy won't mind the ground and comes here on the back of a gutsy win at Haydock while there's been plenty of ante-post support for former Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Little Josh, who has been highly tried this season and is starting to drop down the weights. The opposite is true of Triangular, however, who was raised a massive 13lb after winning at Newbury last month. Paul Nicholls sent out Gwanako to win this in 2008 and the trainer's Mon Perrain was second when favourite last year - the handicapper has given his FRANKIE FIGG every chance of landing this. Already a winner over C&D off this mark, the 10-year-old was sixth in this race 12 months ago off a 6lb higher rating and should take some catching off his low weight if, as expected, he goes off in front again. Fabalu hasn't had much racing considering his age and didn't do a lot wrong when second at Ascot 12 days ago after winning at Bangor. He should also be in the firing-line while Arklow Ger has come back to his best lately and could run into a place.
Tartak (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place and outpaced before 13th, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat, no impression on leaders, 5th of 22, 15l behind Salut Flo (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Apt Approach (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd halfway and lost touch with easy winner after 8th, struggling when mistake 4 out, kept on one pace in straight, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Rubi Light (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, hampered 3rd, struggling 11th, no impression after, well beaten 2 out, 14th of 22, 41l behind Salut Flo (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 10th, outpaced 5 out, headway before and jumped right 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar beating Door Boy (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In touch on outside, driven and outpaced after 4 out, 4th when hit next, ridden to chase leading pair between last 2, no impression, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Micheal Flips (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Little Josh (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Prominent, hit 4th, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, weakened 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Tartak (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec '10.
Matuhi 22-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, some headway when blundered 12th, no impression after, 13th of 22, 40l behind Salut Flo (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Triangular (USA) 9-2fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 11th, led 4 out, clear from next, coasted home, heavily eased closing stages, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar beating Dom D'Orgeval (11-1) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Always Waining (IRE) 50-1 (9-12) Led until 3rd, remained prominent, lost place 7th, 9th of 13, 48l behind Golden Call (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Frankie Figg (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Painter Man (9-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Gonebeyondrecall (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Chased clear leader, 6th halfway, closer 6 out, no extra after 3 out, 10th of 17, 36l behind Alfa Beat (11-3) at Listowel 3m hcp chs sft in Sep.
Arklow Ger (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway into 10th entering straight, ridden in 8th and no impression last, kept on one pace, 8th of 22, 16l behind Seabass (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m 5f Ext hcp ch in Jan.
Paradis de Thaix (FR) 10-1 (9-7) Always prominent and disputed lead, led 7th until joined again 9th, headed 3 out and dropped to 3rd under pressure last, no impression in 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 4l behind Leanne (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs gd in Mar.
Sunday City (JPN) 4-1 (11-13) Prominent, ridden and no impression on winner approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 14, 19l behind Island Life (11-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Aimigayle 7-1 (11-11) Led, jumped right and hit 3rd, jumped right next, headed 4 out, no impression on winner from next, lost 2nd flat, one pace, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Triangular (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Fabalu (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led or disputed lead, ridden and pressed 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Oh Crick (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Feb.
Rio Gael (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, lost place after 4 out, outpaced next, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 11, 30l behind Lava Lamp (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Douglas Julian 13-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, driven 5 out, challenged next, soon ridden, led after 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar beating Alexander Oats (10-6) by 3l, 8 ran.
Bai Zhu (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, challenged 9th, switched right approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 29l behind Triangular (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, led 9th, headed 12th, led again 4 out, clear after 2 out, eased near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar beating Carrietau (11-11) by 5l, 6 ran.
Nikola (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Led or disputed lead until 3 out, beaten 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 32l behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Wake Board (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Raced keenly in touch, headway5 out, weakened 3 out, last of 6, well behind French Ties (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Minella Theatre (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 8th, steadied after next, headway 13th, lost place 16th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 8, 21l behind Trigger The Light (11-6) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Led to after 5th, tracked winner, dropped to rear after 9th, soon struggling, ridden 12th, rallied to go 3rd 3 out, kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Roi De Rose (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
