held up towards rear, not fluent and reminders 4th, not fluent 8th, behind from 11th
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th (water), ridden and lost place after 12th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, pecked next, not fluent 9th (water), headway after next, 15 lengths 6th 4 out, never on terms and no futher progress from 3 out
held up towards rear, struggling from 13th
mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, not fluent 13th, mistake and weakened next
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 7th, ridden before 4 out, stayed on same pace, just failed to get 2nd, no impression on winner
led after 1st until 8th, pressed leader, led again 4 out, clear before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
chased leaders, lost place 13th, closed before 15th, weakened 3 out
led until after 1st, pressed leader, led again 8th until 4 out, 4th and no extra when not fluent last
mid-division, ridden after 11th, well beaten from 14th, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 6th, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, just held on for 2nd
chased leaders, lost place 4th, struggling 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out
Monbeg Dude continues his Grand National preparations in this. He won won a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham in December and has developed into a decent stayer. Last year's Scottish National hero Godsmejudge is also Aintree-bound and has been brought along quietly this season. He makes his first appearance since pulling up at Sandown in December. Wayward Prince has ability but never runs two races alike and Mon Parrain has a bit to prove at present. Night In Milan made a lot of the running in the Sky Bet Chase here in January but was eventually pulled up, as was Mart Lane, but he'd earlier had Harry The Viking behind when winning over track and trip. The latter was third behind Golden Call here subsequently when Storm Survivor was only fifth. COURT BY SURPRISE was pulled up in this last year and is 3lb higher now but he's been running well this season in competitive staying handicaps and looks the pick this time around as Renard may not stay.
Wayward Prince 9-1 (11-10) Slithered badly on landing 1st, last after, mistake 3rd, lost touch 7th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Unioniste (11-6) at Aintree 3m 1f lst chs (1) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
Godsmejudge (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, weakened 20th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by There's No Panic (10-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Monbeg Dude (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 10th, went 2nd going well before 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec beating Theatre Guide (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Mon Parrain (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, blundered 9th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up, in a race won by Ultimate (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Mart Lane (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened before 9th, pulled up after 10th, in a race won by The Rainbow Hunter (10-9) at Doncaster 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Renard (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Led to 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced on long run before 2 out, never on terms, weakened between last 2, 7th of 10, 29l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Night In Milan (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, with leader 10th, ridden before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Rainbow Hunter (10-9) at Doncaster 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, mistake 8th, steady headway to chase leaders before 4 out, travelling well before 3 out, led 3 out, ridden clear between last 2, headed last, driven and stayed on same pace flat to close on all out winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind There's No Panic (10-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Dec.
Golden Call (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Made all, jumped right 1st, pressed from 3 out, kept on gamely from last, kept on well run-in, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Fentara (10-13) by 4l, 8 ran.
Real Milan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders on outside, close up 10th, disputed lead 5 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and no extra after 2 out, well held after, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Rose Of The Moon (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Storm Survivor (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway before 5 out, ridden before 4 out, went 4th before last, one pace, 5th of 8, 16l behind Golden Call (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Harry The Viking 6-1 (11-8) Tracked winner until 7 out, challenged 3 out, ridden before and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Golden Call (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
