in touch, mistake 15th, 6th on last bend, well held 5th 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led 17th, clear briefly before 5 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and held from 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, driven flat, stayed on
mid-division, headway 3rd, lost place after 6th, well beaten 17th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leader until after 6th, pushed along before 15th, blundered badly next, soon beaten, well held after 17th, soon pulled up
led, not fluent 16th, mistake and headed 17th, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up
in rear, pushed along 14th, kept on flat, no chance
mid-division, slow 9th, not fluent 10th, struggling after, tailed off 17th, well beaten 5 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, lost a few places after 11th, closing when hit 16th, bad mistake 4 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, always just held
rear of mid-division, ridden 17th, some headway 5 out, stayed on flat, nearest finish
held up in mid-division, headway after 6th, mistake 8th, 5th on last bend, mistake 5 out, weakened after
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, 4th 4 out, unable to get on terms
towards rear, mistakes 5th and 6th, not fluent 7th, well beaten 17th, not fluent 5 out, pulled up after
tracked leaders, jumped right 11th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up after
always well behind, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, mistake 16th, headway 5 out, no impression, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after
held up towards rear, headway 12th, pressing for 5th 5 out, soon weakened, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after
mid-division, ridden 12th, struggling 17th, kept on flat, no impression
held up in mid-division, ridden and behind 15th, kept on flat, never dangerous
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 2nd, well beaten from 17th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up after
Raz De Maree is only 2lb higher than when winning last season’s renewal but has shown nothing since and isn't getting any younger. Gordon Elliott’s Folsom Blue may be the pick of the Irish challengers today but others are preferred at the weights. David Pipe has two in the race entitled to respect. Vieux Lion Rouge is a stout stayer who ran well again in the Becher Chase earlier this month while Ramses De Teillee has won three of his four previous starts here, including the latest earlier this month. Colin Tizzard won this with a six-year-old two years ago and, though ELEGANT ESCAPE has a long way to go to match the exploits of Native River, he’s going the right way judged on his second to stablemate Sizing Tennessee in the Ladbrokes Trophy. That’s the best piece of recent form on offer and he should take all the beating if lasting home. Top weight Ballyoptic didn’t take to the National fences on his reappearance while Vyta Du Roc is capable on his day. Yala Enki and Vintage Clouds are recent winners while Dawson City and Holly Bush Henry may be the best of those nearer the foot of the weights.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Reluctant to leave start, held up towards rear, headway 10th, chasing leaders when fell next, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Yala Enki (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 5th till 8th, led again 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, left 2nd at last, rallied flat to lead post, won at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Sir Mangan (10-3) by ns, 12 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd 4 out, went 2nd and hit last, plugged on at same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Sizing Tennessee (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 7-1 (11-9) In touch, lost place 8th, soon towards rear, slightly hampered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed approaching 12th, left in lead again next, strongly challenged from 3 out, hard ridden approaching last, held on well, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Takingrisks (10-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Towards rear, closed 4th, lost place 8th, not fluent 14th (foinavon), remote 11th 3 out, progress into 6th last, stayed on from last, went 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner, 2nd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Walk In The Mill (10-3) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Folsom Blue (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, driven 5 out, stayed on after 2 out, left in 4th at last, never a threat, 4th of 7, 21 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Baie Des Iles (FR) (10-5) last of 7, dist behind Bipolaire (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 3f gd in Nov.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 2-1fav (11-10) Held up in touch, led approaching 5 out, reminders after 3 out, hard ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Prime Venture (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Raz De Maree (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along at 6th, ridden and no impression from 4 out, 18th of 25, dist behind Tout Est Permis (10-12) at Navan 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Regal Flow 20-1 (10-6) Towards rear, mistake 10th, blundered and unseated rider 14th (foinavon), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Rons Dream Evensfav (11-4) Disputed 2nd, reached for 5th, driven to chase clear winner after 5 out, ridden after next, kept on, never able to challenge, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Pearl Royale (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Looksnowtlikebrian (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 14th, soon chasing leaders, led before 3 out, mistake last, kept on well, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Bako De La Saulaie (11-2) by 10l, 10 ran.
Final Nudge (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Towards rear, pushed along after 5 out, plugged on before 3 out, never dangerous, 10th of 17, 35 1/4l behind Minellacelebration (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gd in May.
Lieutenant Colonel 40-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, weakened after 3 out, pulled up after next, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, ridden and struggling from next, 5th of 7, 27 1/4l behind Knock House (11-4) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Jennys Surprise (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, rallied after last, stayed on under pressure to lead again last strides, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Bally Longford (11-12) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Dawson City 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear, struggling when hit 4 out, ridden and headway under pressure after 2 out, stayed on from last, just failed for 4th, never nearer, 5th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Harry The Viking (10-5) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Mysteree (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, hampered and lost place 19th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, dist behind Harry The Viking (10-5) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place before 3rd, headway on outside 14th, challenged 4 out, soon led, switched right after 2 out, headed last, not clear run flat, switched left and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Beau Du Brizais (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
