held up towards rear, tailed off when lost action pulled up and dismounted before 15th
chased leaders slightly hampered by faller 10th, went 2nd at 17th, led 2 out, strongly pressed run-in, found extra towards finish
ran in snatches, chased leaders until lost place at 12th, hit next, rallied before 2 out, went modest 3rd run-in
awkward at 4th, always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
many mistakes, held up off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders when hit 21st, hit 23rd, left in 4th place 4 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd before the last, strong challenge run-in, just held
chased leaders, left in 2nd place at 10th until 17th, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
led until fell 10th
chased leaders until lost place 8th, mid-division, rallied chasing leaders 19th, blundered badly 4 out, not recover, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 20th
always in rear, never a factor, tailed off
held up off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders 8th, weakened before 21st, tailed off 5 out, hit 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, chased leader, left in lead 10th, headed before 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, weakened into 4th run-in
NonRunner
Sam Red was third in this in 2019 and only beaten a length last year. One of only two previous course winners in the line-up, Andrew Leyshon’s 11-year-old should give supporters a run for their money again. Gran Paradiso should have the required stamina and Dawson City, a seven-times winner under Rules, has won over an extended 3m6f. Shantou Flyer, in the care of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, beat the useful Jett and Sam Red over 3m2f at Fontwell in February and has the highest rating of these having placed three times in the Foxhunter at The Festival. Give Me A Copper has left the Nicholls yard but ran in last year’s Grand National and is tried in cheekpieces today. CAPTAIN DRAKE won the Devon National in February before being pulled up in the Midands version. He had finished second in the latter race in 2020, however, so stamina is not an issue and he can make a winning start for Bradley Gibbs. Law Of Gold was surprisingly beaten at Fakenham 11 days ago but that wasn’t his form and he did overturn Shantou Flyer at Fontwell last May.
Captain Drake (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place 15th, struggling in rear 20th, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 33-1 (12-6) Held up in rear, pushed along after 8th, reminders after 11th, left behind before 4 out, plugged on from before last, 5th of 9, 26 1/2l behind Ami Desbois (11-12) at Newbury 2m 7f (6) gs in Apr.
Dawson City 11-1 (10-12) Pestered leader throughout, often nudged, 3rd and struggling to keep tabs on front pair when ridden before 3 out, dropped to 4th 2 out, plugged on one pace, 4th of 5, 7 1/2l behind Revels Hill (11-3) at Taunton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Gran Paradiso (IRE) 1-2fav (11-7) (cp) (tt) led til hdd aft 2; lft 2nd 15; no imp 3 out, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Sonneofpresenting (11-7) at Barbury Racecourse 3m 6f gf in Apr.
Law Of Gold (IRE) 11-10fav (12-6) Chased clear leading pair, not fluent 10th, closed 11th, chased leader 13th, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Not That Fuisse (12-6) at Fakenham 3m (5) gd in Apr.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Led until 14th, chased leader, pushed along after 4 out, rallied soon after, not much room on inside and led last, stayed on gamely and went clear run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) sft in Feb beating Jett (12-2) by 5 1/2l, 4 ran.
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Close up early, slightly hampered 1st, tracked leaders after 2nd, lost position after 13th and soon outpaced, headway over 3 out, ran on into 2nd after last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Ami Desbois (11-12) at Newbury 2m 7f (6) gs in Apr.
Mr Snuffles (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Led til hdd app 2 out; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Willewonga (12-0) at Sandon 3m gs in Apr.
Popelys Gull (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) (5a) drpd rr 8; lost tch 14, 3rd of 4, 18 1/4l behind Caryto Des Brosses (11-7) at Garthorpe 3m gs in Mar.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 3-1 (12-3) (cp) chsd ldrs til mist 14, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Normofthenorth (12-3) at Kimble 3m gf in Apr.
Sam Red (FR) 4-1 (11-7) (cp) (tt) chsd wnr to 2 & 13 til outpcd 3 out; went 2nd flat; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Diplomate Sivola (11-7) at Guilsborough 3m sft in Mar.
Smoke Man (IRE) 4-6fav (12-0) (cp) led 5; drew clr aft 3 out; drvn out, won at Garthorpe 3m gs in Mar beating Skipping On (12-0) by 10l, 4 ran.
Optimised (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) (cp) lost plce 6; outpcd 12; rallied 14; wknd 3 out, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Ballymac Boy (12-0) at Eyton-on-severn 3m gd in Apr.
