mid-division, struggling from 9 out, pulled up
mid-division, lost place halfway, blundered 16th, tailed off, soon pulled up
led, headed before 4 out, soon outpaced
towards rear, headway before 8 out, led last, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 17th, led before 4 out, headed before 2 out, one pace in 3rd
mid-division, headway before 19th, left 6th and hampered 4 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders and mistakes, lost place halfway, soon driven along, pulled up after 16th
tracked leader, ridden in 5th before 4 out, in 6th when fell 4 out
towards rear, tracked leaders halfway, fell 16th
in touch, pushed along and outpaced before 6 out, no impression, pulled up
mid-division, headway before 11 out, led before 2 out, headed last, no extra
in rear, pushed along after 16th, tailed off, pulled up
held up in touch, ridden in 4th before 2 out, one pace and no impression
towards rear, reminders after 16th, soon tailed off, pulled up
towards rear, effort after 17th, never dangerous, pulled up
always behind, pulled up
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 11th
The veterans Portrait King and Milborough won this in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Chase The Spud became the only other winner over this distance when landing the Midlands National at Uttoxeter then defied a 9lb rise at Haydock but he had a hard race in the Welsh Grand National, where he led for a long way. Houblon Des Obeaux was beaten 10 lengths into fourth in that Uttoxeter event but was conceding a stone to the winner and receives 5lb here so is greatly respected. Bryony Frost steered Milansbar, who pulled up in this last year, to an easy victory in a Grade 3 handicap at Warwick but he has been hit with a 9lb rise. Vinnie Lewis has really found his form since tackling staying events, though he's another with a 9lb rise for landing the Sussex National at Plumpton. Themanfrom Minella is another on the upgrade and jumped superbly when making all at Wincanton while West Of The Edge will have no problems with the trip having won over 3m5f at Warwick last March. Back To The Thatch has only had four starts over fences but was very impressive under Richard Johnson at Chepstow, though his stamina has to be taken on trust. HAINAN is another progressive stayer who scored over 3m4f at Haydock before finding a shorter trip against him in a Grade 2 there last month - he gets the nod in a very competitive event.
Chase The Spud 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed before next, led 8th, headed 11th, left in lead next, headed 13th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 7-1 (12-7) Mid-division, headway on inside 8th, 3rd and outpaced before 2 out, held after, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Another Venture (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Milansbar (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led until after 2nd, prominent, led 4th, headed before 6th, led 9th, clear last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Cogry (11-11) by 11l, 13 ran.
Baywing (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, slow 3rd, pecked 10th, not fluent next, went 4th after 5 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Smooth Stepper (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Hainan (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, mistake 3 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 13 3/4l behind The Dutchman (10-6) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Smooth Stepper 2-1 (11-4) Jumped well, led until 1st, led 4th, clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Silver Tassie (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vinnie Lewis (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Always prominent, led and hit 4 out, clear after next, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Shanroe Santos (11-5) by 6l, 11 ran.
Thebarrowman (IRE) 4-1jfav (12-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, lost place briefly after 12th, pushed along in 5th before 2 out where pecked slightly, soon ridden and no extra, weakened, 7th of 12, 36l behind Glencairn View (10-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Back To The Thatch (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until after next, handy 3rd, 2nd again 5 out, led 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, easily, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Catching On (11-11) by 11l, 10 ran.
Themanfrom Minella (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-3) Made all, clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Blameitalonmyroots (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
West Of The Edge (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd before 4 out, closed and only 2 lengths down last, no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Emperor's Choice (11-4) at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Silver Tassie (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, went 3rd 5th, ridden 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Smooth Stepper (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Portrait King (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) In rear, jumped left 9th and 10th, soon reminders, pushed along and no impression before 4 out, detached and jumped left 3 out, no extra, 4th of 6, dist behind Westerner Point (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Milborough (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In rear, effort before 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 21 1/4l behind I Just Know (11-10) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Boric 7-2 (10-13) Held up, jumped right 3rd, went 2nd 11th, challenged 15th until 2 lengths down last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Straidnahanna (11-6) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Lochnell (IRE) 13-8 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd and in rear, chased winner before 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 3, 17l behind Progress Drive (11-8) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Millicent Silver 5-1 (11-6) In rear, jumped slowly at times, ridden 10th, behind 16th, pulled up before next, at Bangor 3m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
