in rear, not fluent 9th, soon detached, pushed along after 8th, mistake 9th (water), pulled up before 12th
chased leaders, ridden and no impression from after 4 out
chased leader, with leader 13th, challenged 3 out, every chance next, chance when not fluent last, not quicken last 100 yards
held up towards rear, in 9th when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up mid-division, weakened from 13th
chased leaders, pushed along after 10th, soon lost place
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 5 out, no impression on leading pair from after 4 out
prominent, weakened approaching 13th
held up in mid-division, weakened approaching 12th
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway from 9th, led approaching 11th, pressed when mistake 3 out, under pressure when not fluent 2 out, ridden and held on well last 100 yards
mid-division, reminders approaching 8th, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 12th
held up towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, detached after 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
held up in rear, headway approaching 6 out, no impression from 4 out
led on inside, headed approaching 11th, hit 12th, weakened approaching next
A competitive renewal of the Grimthorpe and from a shortlist of Possol, Gidam Gidam and IRIS DE BALME, it is the last-named who comes out on top. This looks a good trial for the Grand National and Sean Curran's gelding made a pleasing start on the comeback trail when fifth at Wetherby last month. This longer trip and better ground will suit and the 2008 Scottish National winner looks dangerously well-treated on this mark of 140. Air Force One has never fulfilled his potential but cannot be ignored off a mark of 146, Killyglen's career has stalled and he needs to polish up his credentials, whilst Cloudy Lane won this in 2008 off a 1lb higher mark. Possol's recent improvement has come over hurdles and he has to prove that he can handle the hurly-burly of a big chase like this, Comply Or Die is taking a different route to Aintree this year and remains of interest, whilst Gidam Gidam is a dour stayer who loves the track but may struggle off his new mark (10lb higher than when winning here last month). Coe is slow, Gypsy George looks well-handicapped, as does 2009 Eider winner Merigo who gets on well with jockey Dougie Costello. Wogan, Millside and Daldini are all chasers who seem to be on the up and are therefore considered, however the vote of confidence goes to Irish De Balme.
Possol (FR) 8-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, disputing lead 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Truckers Hall (10-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Cloudy Lane 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 11l behind Souffleur (11-4) at Haydock 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Killyglen (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 13th, soon weakened, behind when blundered 18th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Monkerhostin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Air Force One (GER) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 4th, pushed along after 13th, struggling 4 out, left poor 3rd next, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Tricky Trickster (11-3) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Iris De Balme (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 3 out, every chance next, no extra last, 5th of 12, 9l behind Babysitter (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led last 100 yards, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Feb beating Turpin Green (11-5) by 5l, 16 ran.
Coe (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, soon chasing leaders, blundered 16th, weakened from 5 out, 7th of 14, 44l behind Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Gypsy George 15-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, led 5 out, headed next, well held in 2nd when blundered 2 out, 2nd of 7, 10l behind BallaBriggs (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Merigo (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, led before next, headed last, stayed on same pace (disqualified - failing to weigh in at correct weight), in a race won by Winterwood (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Wogan 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, blundered 9th, led 5 out, kept on from last, won at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan beating Presenting Forever (11-4) by 6l, 12 ran.
Mill Side 7-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, lost place from 9th, 5th of 9, 18l behind Daldini (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Tot O'Whiskey 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, reminders 2nd, lost place 8th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Silver By Nature (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Rambling Minster 14-1 (11-2) Held up in touch on outside, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off 5 out, 7th of 9, well behind Chief Dan George (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Daldini 16-1 (11-1) Made all, under pressure from 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely flat, won at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Oscar Park (11-12) by 4l, 9 ran.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Made most until headed 9th, weakened after 3 out, soon well behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, 34l behind Lie Forrit (9-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
