led until fell 8th
chased leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on strongly from last
tracked leaders, lost place from 9th, tailed off
mid-division, blundered 6th, ridden next, never dangerous
always behind, mistakes
behind, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
in touch, blundered 14th, 5th when hampered and unseated rider 15th
held up, blundered 11th, never dangerous
tracked leader, blundered 6th, left in lead 8th, headed when jumped slow 10th, 3rd when fell 15th
mid-division, prominent when hampered 8th, blundered when weakening 10th
tracked leaders, blundered and hampered 8th, led 11th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, one pace
tracked leaders, led 10th, headed 11th, led again 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on, no chance with winner
mid-division, hampered 8th, jumped right 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 4 out, in 4th when hampered 2 out, stayed on
always behind, never dangerous
in rear, ridden and good headway 3 out, stayed on from next
held up, hampered 11th, headway 3 out, one pace
in touch, behind when blundered and unseated rider 6th
prominent, mistakes, blundered 8th, weakened from 13th
Nonrunner
This is the first of two races run over the Grand National fences on the card and in what looks a competitive contest the vote goes to Theatre Knight, who is preferred to I Hear Thunder and Shannon's Pride. The selection, like a lot of Howard Johnson's horses struggled to show any real worthwhile form last term and, as a result, is seemingly well treated now. The eight-year-old confirmed that belief when making a winning return at Carlisle recently and he is taken to follow up. Manbow tends to show his best form at Wetherby but would have claims if he could reproduce that here, while Bob The Builder disappointed back over fences at Cheltenham last time and is hard to back with confidence on the evidence of that outing. Hakim has plenty of weight to carry and of more interest may be Bob Buckler's I Hear Thunder, who has run to a similar level of form in both starts this term. Richard Guest's Shannon's Pride came back to form at Hexham last time and has to be considered off his light weight but Theatre Knight has a similar weight to carry and may be open to further improvement now that his yard is back in form so he is preferred.
Hakim (NZ) 13-2fav (10-6) Made most, ridden and joined from 2 out, headed soon after last, stayed on, 2nd of 29, 1 1/2l behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, every chance approaching 3 out, 3rd and held when hit last, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Tanterari (10-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Oct.
Bob The Builder 9-2 (11-6) Hit 1st, made most until headed 4 out, weakened, no chance when hampered 2 out, 7th of 14, 26l behind Butler's Cabin (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Be My Better Half (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 12th, 7th of 13, well behind Bob Bob Bobbin (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Neltina 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 8th, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun beating Borehill Joker (10-3) by 3l, 7 ran.
Swansea Bay 12-1 (10-4) Led, ridden clear 4 out, weakened and headed approaching 3 out, no chance after, 5th of 12, 15l behind Parsons Legacy (10-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd.
Burwood Breeze (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders to 18th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Mckelvey (10-10) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Jul, 15 ran.
Eskimo Pie (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 36l behind King Killone (11-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Glengarra (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden and narrow leader when blundered badly and headed last, not recover, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Roofing Spirit (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Incas (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, 5th of 11, 16l behind Dolans Bay (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led 2 out, held on well, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Willie The Fish (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led 9th, clear 3 out, comfortably, won at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Lampion Du Bost (11-12) by 10l, 8 ran.
Mon Oiseau (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Behind, headway 4 out, went 2nd before last, ran on, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Keevas Boy (10-0) at Down Royal 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 gs.
Manbow (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Mandingo Chief (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Star Performance (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, challenged winner from 5 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gd.
Paddy Fitz (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Prominent, 4th 6 out, 5th approaching next, soon no impression under pressure, 7th of 8, 31l behind Anothercoppercoast (11-2) at Cork 2m 4f nov chs gs.
Cassia Heights 33-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 8, 24l behind Abragante (11-1) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Lampion du Bost (FR) 7-2jt-fav (11-12) Held up, headway 10th, outpaced 3 out, ran on close home, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Shannon's Pride (11-8) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Log On Intersky (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) With leaders, reminders after 10th, lost place approaching next, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Strong Resolve (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 6-4fav (11-1) Led, mistake 4 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened 3 out, 4th of 7, 15l behind Island of Memories (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Wain Mountain 28-1 (10-8) Mid-division, blundered 7th and lost place, slightly hampered 10th (Becher's), soon well behind, 14th of 29, well behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 11-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, every chance 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 13l behind Cameron Bridge (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Soeur Fontenail (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Led, blundered 2nd, headed 8th, led 10th to 2 out, soon no chance, 4th of 6, 4l behind Master T (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
