in touch, led 5 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 4 lengths down when blundered badly last, one pace
mid-dvision, not fluent 10th, weakened 6 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-divsion, weakened 19th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, brought down 4th
mid-divison, ridden and weakened 18th, pulled up after 22nd
held up mid-division, not fluent when weakened 5 out
close up, hit 17th, hit 20th, soon weakened, pulled up before next
towards rear, ridden 18th, soon outpaced, stayed on from 3 out
mid-divsion, not fluent 16th, chased leaders 5 out, mistake next, every chance 3 out, no extra approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 20th, weakened 4 out
in touch, weakened 23rd
always behind, mistake 2nd, tailed off when pulled up 18th
behind, hampered 4th, pushed along 12th, struggling from 18th
prominent, hit 20th, weakened 5 out
led, headed 9th, led again 13th, ridden 22nd, headed 5 out, weakening when blundered 4 out
held up, outpaced 18th, kept on from 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, led 9th, headed 13th, weakening when blundered 15th, pulled up before 16th
fell 4th
held up, weakened from 20th
held up, steady headway 20th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, clear approaching last
close up, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
chased leaders, struggling halfway, pulled up before 21st
Flintoff is certainly not the most reliable but this is his ground and Venetia Williams' gelding gets the vote here ahead of the more obvious pair of Halcon Genelardais and Miko De Beauchene, with Old Benny another to throw into the mix. Due to the presence of top-weight Halcon Genelardais, all but three of this field will race from out of the handicap. The selection is one of those, effectively racing from a 7lb higher mark, although Aidan Coleman's claim gets it down to just 2bs effectively. He finished just a length behind Miko De Beauchene earlier in the season and won't mind if further rain falls. The latter has kept his form well all season since winning the Welsh National at Chepstow, and whilst he is worse off with Halcon Genelardais at the weights this afternoon, it still seems hard to separate them. Ferdy Murphy has a great record in this race and has two leading chances in Noir Et Vert and Leading Man, and it must be remembered that he won this with an apprentice-ridden horse last season. Openide ran a cracker in the Kim Muir when second, and if he stays then he's a major player, whilst Opera Mundi needs to bounce back to form after an abject display. Old Benny is a major player from just out of the weights given his fine win in the four-miler at Cheltenham, however that was a fairly hard race and it would be some effort to score here. Patsy Hall may well be gambled for his legendary trainer but the signs point to stamina frailties, and so we will return to the stout stayer Flintoff as the nomination.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, struggling 14th, soon lost place, stayed on again from 2 out, 4th of 12, 16l behind Denman (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 7-1jt-fav (10-8) Held up in touch, went 2nd 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon led, headed before 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 24, 3l behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Opera Mundi (FR) 7-1 (11-12) In touch, reminders and lost place 9th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan, 20 ran.
Old Benny 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, hampered 5 out, headway 3 out, kept on to lead last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (2) gs in Mar beating Over The Creek (12-0) by 7l, 20 ran.
Patsy Hall (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, hampered 7th, headway 4 out, chased winner after 2 out, every chance when mistake last, weakened flat, 4th of 14, 8l behind An Accordion (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leader, driven before 8th, lost 2nd next, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 24, 38l behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Mon Mome (FR) 28-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 18th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 10th of 40, well behind Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd.
Kilbeggan Blade 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 18th, headway 27th, ridden, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 16, well behind Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Flintoff (USA) 25-1 (9-13) Rear of mid-division, mistake 13th, 9th 5 out, moderate 6th and no extra from 2 out, 6th of 23, 47l behind Hear The Echo (10-0) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs gs in Mar.
Openide 18-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 12th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, chased winner in vain last, kept on, 2nd of 24, 4l behind High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Philson Run (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, hampered and fell at the 8th in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd, 40 ran.
Tommy Spar 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear when blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd, 29 ran.
Ossmoses (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leader after 3rd, ridden 3 out, weakened from last, 6th of 13, 14l behind Tango Royal (10-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar.
Irish Wolf (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 3rd, soon behind, weakened from 12th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oedipe (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd, 17 ran.
Leading Man (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 6 out, ridden from 4 out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 19, 5l behind King Harald (11-8) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Feb.
Noir Et Vert (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Mid-division, took closer order when mistake 15th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 24, 21l behind High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd, 29 ran.
Royal Rosa (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-divsion, ridden 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 18, 36l behind Comply Or Die (11-12) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Azulejo (FR) 100-1 (10-6) Towards rear, hampered 3rd (The Chair), never dangerous, 12th of 29, well behind Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd.
Model Son (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway to mid-division 11th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Out The Black (11-4) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd, 13 ran.
Another Rum (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Behind, ridden 3 out, kept on approaching last, nearest finish, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Standin Obligation (11-12) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy.
Iris De Balme (FR) 2-1jt-fav (11-3) Pulled early, headway 14th, led 18th, headed approaching 3 out, rallied and every chance when not fluent last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Petite Margot (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened from next, 6th of 12, 36l behind Standin Obligation (11-12) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy.
In The Loop (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd halfway, led 5 out, strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed briefly, regained lead last, ran on well close home, won at Down Royal 3m 2f chs hvy in Mar beating Dun Doire (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
