always prominent, made most 10th to 14th, led 15th, made rest, strongly pressed from 2 out, driven and stayed on gamely run-in
led until mistake and headed 7th, stayed challenging, ridden along after 16th, 5th and struggling when blundered 17th, weakened soon after
close up, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up 17th
raced wide, held up in rear, stayed on from 4 out but never in contention
chased leaders, went prominent 16th, chased winner 17th to 4 out, no extra from 2 out, hit last
behind, headway and not fluent 7th, hit 10th and soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up 17th
in touch, headway on outside to chase leaders 12th, ridden approaching 15th, soon behind
held up in rear, hit 6th, steady headway from 13th, went 14th at 17th, chased winner from 4 out, challenging from 2 out, every chance when wandered approaching last, found no extra run-in
chased leaders until blundered 5th, behind after, tailed off and pulled up 17th
chased leaders, ridden along 14th, driven approaching 4 out, no extra approaching 2 out
held up in rear, staying on one pace in 6th but looked beaten when blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 2 out
hampered 1st, behind, blundered 16th, tailed off when blundered and nearly unseated rider 4 out
close up until slow jump and lost place 11th, behind when fell 15th
behind, blundered 3rd, 9th and 10th, tailed off after 11th and pulled up approaching 13th
held up towards rear, headway 12th, chasing leaders when blundered 13th, blundered 16th and next and soon weakened
never travelling in rear, reminders 6th, mistake and driven along 8th, tailed off
chased leader, led 7th to 10th, led 14th until mistake and headed next, stayed challenging and ridden along from 17th, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, lost place 15th, tailed off when pulled up 17th
not much room on inside when bumped and unseated rider 1st
Nonrunner
A high class renewal of a contest steeped in National Hunt racing history can see DENMAN further etch his name into the annals, while Killyglen and What A Friend rate as big dangers, and from out of the handicap former winner State Of Play can make a bold bid to regain the crown. Paul Nicholls has been bullish about the wellbeing of Denman, who landed this in 2007 by 11 lengths and carrying top weight, when rated 161. Now 13lbs higher, and coming here off the back of low, health-affected season last time, his task looks even greater on paper. However, if his trainer is to be believed, he is better now than at any time last season, when the form book shows that our below-par hero still beat all but the great Kauto Star stone dead in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. That was a superb effort in its own right, while he was also still going well enough around an unsuitable Aintree when tipping up next time, and you write him off at your peril. Ruby Walsh has chosen him over stablemate What A Friend, who has been beaten only once in four outings over fences. He has more of the profile of a Hennessy winner, given that he is just six-years-old and a second season chaser, while he stays well and acts with cut. Killyglen is interesting. He returned over 2m 4f at Carlisle, a trip too short for him, but previous wins against Chief Dan George and Shining Gale over similar trips to this marked him out as a leading novice last season. He has earned his current mark of 154 and with a nice racing weight and conditions to suit he rates a big danger.
Denman (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Held up, headway approaching 11th, went 2nd 13th, ridden and challenging when fell 2 out, in a race won by Madison Du Berlais (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Joe Lively (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Close up, dropped to moderate 3rd and ridden before 3 out, soon no extra in 5th, 5th of 8, 33l behind The Listener (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs sft.
Mon Mome (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway halfway, chasing leaders 4 out, ridden after 2 out, led after last, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr beating Comply Or Die (11-6) by 12l, 40 ran.
My Will (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th when slow jump and reminders 6 out, ridden to chase winner in 2nd before 3 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 15l behind The Listener (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs sft.
Barbers Shop 10-1 (11-10) In touch, not much room after 18th, mistake next, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 16, 33l behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Mar.
Killyglen (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Led, headed 7th, rallied approaching 3 out, soon every chance, weakened before last, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Knockara Beau (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 4f chs (2) sft.
War Of Attrition (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, slow jump 8th and mistake next, went moderate 3rd and no impression from 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 18l behind The Listener (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs sft.
What A Friend 1-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led going well approaching last, soon left clear, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov stks (4) gd in Apr beating Badger (10-9) by 31l, 4 ran.
An Accordion (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Never going well in rear, reminder 7th, lost touch and pulled up after 9th, in a race won by Madison Du Berlais (11-6) at Kempton 3m chs G2 (1) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Behind, under pressure 5 out, never a factor, 8th of 16, 14l behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Snowy Morning (IRE) 5-2fav (11-3) Led, clear for much, strongly pressed from before 2 out, stayed on best run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f hdl hvy in May beating Clear Riposte (10-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Chelsea Harbour (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd and hit 3 out, weakened and mistake next, 6th of 12, 32l behind Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft.
Cappa Bleu (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up, slightly hampered when left 3rd 7th, effort 11th, driven and outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression with leading pair, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Door Boy (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Ballyfitz 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, blundered 10th and slightly lost place, rallied under pressure from 3 out, stayed on well flat, 4th of 16, 10l behind Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft.
Kornati Kid 6-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 11th, chased winner after 4 out until next, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 19, 42l behind Tricky Trickster (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m amat chs (2) gs in Mar.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway halfway, never on terms, 6th of 18, 20l behind Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs.
Niche Market (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 18, 27l behind Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs.
State of Play 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort and every chance 2 out, one pace run-in, 4th of 40, 18l behind Mon Mome (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Offshore Account (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, lost place 3 out, ridden in 10th and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 20, 34l behind Beroni (10-6) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Oct.
Casey Jones (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Towards rear, tended to jump left, went moderate 4th under pressure and no impression from 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 19l behind The Listener (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs sft.
New Alco (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, some headway to moderate 5th after 4 out, no impression leaders, 5th of 9, 30l behind Neptune Collonges (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 fm in Apr '08.
