tracked leader, restrained into midfield 2nd, ridden and lost place 7th, in rear 4 out, no extra
led, jumped right 1st, headed before 7th, upsides when fell 8th
in rear, slow jump 1st, some headway 8th, ridden after 4 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, headway into midfield 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased leader travelling strongly 3 out, eased into lead last, ridden clear flat
chased leader, blundered 4th, close up 6th, led before 7th, headed before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
midfield, lost ground and towards rear 7th, ridden 4 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, left in 2nd 8th, led approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headed narrowly last, no extra flat
Defi Sacre held every chance when unseating his rider last time at Newbury but is closely matched with Duke Of Navan on earlier Aintree running. The latter hasn’t won for a long time but it will be a surprise if he doesn’t make the frame again. Billingsley rattled up a hat-trick last season but connections will have been praying for rain whereas Western Miller needs better ground. Rough Night was fancied on his Aintree reappearance but ran a shocker and has become hard to predict. VADO FORTE has yet to win over fences but his close third at Wetherby in October has worked out well and may have been given too much to do last month at Chepstow.
Western Miller (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, fell 2nd, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Billingsley (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-10) Jumped right, made all, clear before last, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Boagrius (11-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Behind, headway after 2 out, went 1 length 2nd when not fluent last, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind The Big Bite (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Defi Sacre (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, bad mistake 5th, headway to chase leaders, 10th ridden to challenge when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Vado Forte (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 5 out, hampered after 2 out, no extra when mistake last, 6th of 9, 17 3/4l behind Anemoi (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Instant Replay (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, headed narrowly 5th, ridden after 3 out, lost ground 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Applaus (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Rough Night (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, hit 4 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 8, 37 3/4l behind The Big Bite (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Solar Impulse (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Raced out wide in mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, behind and mistake 11th, tailed off when went left 12th, pulled up before next, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
