pressed leader until before 5 out, ridden an switched right before 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, well beaten from 2 out
rear of mid-division, not fluent 11th, behind from 18th
mid-division, headway after 18th, ridden 4 out, weakened from next
behind, headway approaching 5 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in mid-division, some headway when blundered and unseated rider 13th
towards rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 6th, some headway 15th, well beaten before 5 out
mid-division, closed on outside before 2nd, not fluent 9th, mistake next, ridden before 13th, not fluent 16th, weakened next, pulled up before 5 out
made most until 3 out, switched right after 2 out, held flat, stayed on
towards rear, hampered 13th, never figured
held up in mid-division, lost place before 2nd, mistake 12th and 17th, some headway 17th, well beaten before 4 out
chased leaders, slow and lost place 3rd, rider lost iron briefly 9th, headway 11th, every chance 4 out, 4th and fading inside final 100 yards
chased leaders, not fluent 15th, outpaced 4 out, kept on from last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, blundered 9th, badly hampered 13th, behind when pulled up before 5 out
prominent early, chased leaders, ridden 17th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, mistake 11th, headway after 18th, disputing 3rd when not fluent 3 out, beaten next
held up in mid-division, headway 14th, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, girth soon became undone and saddle started to slip slightly back, clear flat, stayed on well
always towards rear, well beaten before 5 out, pulled up after
It’s a big day for the Evan Williams stable and there will be some long faces if SECRET REPRIEVE isn’t in the mix for this given the manner of his victory in a trial here five weeks ago when he beat The Two Amigos, Bobo Mac and Captain Drake. Stamina will have to be proved but he has a feather weight and is theoretically ahead of the handicapper. Lord Du Mesnil will love conditions and is a thorough stayer who looks to have been laid out for this. Truckers Lodge, Yala Enki and Prime Venture all ran well in the race last season while Cloudy Glen easily beat Christmas In April at Fontwell before disappointing at Sandown. Conor O’Farrell keeps the ride on Vieux Lion Rouge after steering the 12-year-old to victory in the Becher Chase. Calipso Collonges, Joe Farrell and stable companion Ramses De Teillee were behind but the latter doesn’t handle the National fences at Aintree and has a chance in this on his best form. Springfield Fox was a winner here last season and has had a prep run over hurdles with Dominateur another proven on the track and on the going.
Yala Enki (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Chasing leaders when fell 1st, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Jumped right at times, led until 7th, prominent when mistake and unseated rider 12th, at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Led until blundered and lost place 2nd, rallied to lead again 5th until next, led again 8th, hit 10th, lost 2nd 11th, chased leaders, pecked badly 13th (bechers), weakened next (canal turn), 7th of 14, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, weakened and towards rear when mistake 14th, 9th of 18, dist behind Beau Bay (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Cloudy Glen (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Settled last, jumped left 8th and 9th, still in rear when jumped left and mistake 18th, headway into third bypassing omitted 3 out, under pressure soon after and mistake 2 out, weakened and lost two places run-in, 5th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Doing Fine (10-11) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and went 4th after 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 18, 14l behind Cloth Cap (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 11th, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Kimberlite Candy (11-6) by 24l, 14 ran.
Springfield Fox 11-8 (10-12) Led, pressed and headed briefly 7th, led 4 out, driven before 3 out, pressed 2 out, headed before last, held in 2nd last, no match for the winner, 2nd of 3, 5 1/2l behind Oscar Elite (11-5) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Dec.
The Two Amigos 9-2 (11-11) Disputed lead, led narrowly after 4 out (usually 5 out), ridden along and headed 2 out (usually 3 out), no more, 2nd of 11, 12l behind Secret Reprieve (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Big River (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place before 5th, headway 16th, outpaced before 3 out, soon well held, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 6, 35 1/4l behind Ramses De Teillee (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Dominateur (FR) 18-1 (11-2) Tracked leader and always third, mistake 13th, not fluent 14th and 15th, slightly detached following error at 15th, regrouped and tracked front pair after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon detached, pushed along and no extra closing stages, last of 3, 16 1/2l behind Pym (11-2) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Captain Drake (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out (usually 5 out), weakened after 3 out (usually 4 out), 5th of 11, 33 1/2l behind Secret Reprieve (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Prime Venture (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Jumped well, tracked leader, led on inside 3 out, clear after next, stayed on well, very easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Jack Devine (11-0) by 16l, 3 ran.
Joe Farrell (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 2nd, mid-division when slightly hampered 13th (bechers), no chance when hit last, 6th of 14, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Christmas In April (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Led early, disputed lead throughout, lost position and 4th 3 out, stayed on to regain 2nd on run-in but no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Cloudy Glen (11-9) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Bobo Mac (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) In rear, headway approaching 4 out (usually 5 out), took third after 3 out (usually 4 out), stayed on gamely from 2 out (usually 3 out), 3rd of 11, 14 3/4l behind Secret Reprieve (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Secret Reprieve (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, travelled and jumped well, pressed leader 3 out (usually 4 out), led 2 out (usually 3 out), drew clear on the run to the last, comfortable, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating The Two Amigos (11-11) by 12l, 11 ran.
Calipso Collonges (FR) 28-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 4th when blundered 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 14, 32 3/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
