led to 3rd, remained prominent, led again 4 out, ridden after next, hard pressed flat, held on near finish
with leaders, led 3rd, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, tailed off
mid-division, headway and in touch 13th, chased winner 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no extra in 4th after last
mid-division, mistake 9th, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, rallied after last, ran on and closing on winner near finish, just held
mid-division, mistake and reminders after 5th, lost place 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always behind, lost touch 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leaders, outpaced when ridden after 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off
held up behind, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, rallied and every chance after flat, kept on, held near finish
Beeves won by 10 lengths at Fakenham but that’s put him on a career-high mark. Cocktails At Dawn and Ballykan both ran over the National fences at Aintree but neither got very far. The latter, however, is one of three previous course winners in this alongside Jet Master and Bernardelli. Nicky Richards handles the latter but looks to have better claims with Cultram Abbey, who was clear when falling at the last at Carlisle in February. Silver Tassie was third last year and is 2lb lower but Tom George, trainer of A GOOD SKIN (NAP), trained the winner so should know where he stands. The yard has won this three times in the last six years and their entry this year has been running with credit in better races. He’s been dropped another 3lb since Cheltenham and is looking well treated.
Beeves (IRE) 4-1 (12-3) Chased leader, led 2nd, made rest, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to assert before the last, won at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Fingerontheswitch (11-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Cocktails At Dawn 33-1 (10-8) Fell 1st, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ballykan 16-1 (10-9) In touch, fell 3rd (chair), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Cultram Abbey 11-2 (11-11) Behind, headway before 7 out, every chance 5 out, led 4 out, about 4 lengths up when fell last, at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Bernardelli (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake and weakened from 9th, pulled up after next, at Kelso 2m 7f lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Silver Tassie (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, one pace before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 10 3/4l behind Yala Enki (11-11) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
A Good Skin (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, never near leaders, 10th of 23, 33 1/2l behind Un Temps Pour Tout (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Jet Master (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Behind and raced wide, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Rhymers Stone (11-4) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
