blundered and dropped to rear 4th, recovered to track leaders from 9th, weakened 3 out
mostly chased winner from 2nd, mistake 3rd, lost 2nd 11th, went 2nd again 3 out, no impression before next
held up, ridden and struggling 15th, 7th and no chance when pulled up before last
not fluent and never going well in rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up, blundered 13th , blundered 16th and 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 15th, blundered next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 8th, chased winner 11th to 16th, weakening when blundered 4 out and pulled up
held up in rear, headway 15th, challenged next, blundered 4 out, ridden to dispute 2nd from next but no chance with winner
chased leaders, lost place 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 14th
led to 2nd, in touch, lost place 12th, tailed off 16th
chased leaders, effort 15th, under pressure 4 out, weakened next
led 2nd, made rest, in command well before 2 out, stayed on strongly
Nonrunner
Toulouse-Lautrec can land the day's feature race at the expense of Le Jaguar, Midnight Gunner, Dunbrody Miller and Brave Spirit. Toulouse-Lautrec was successful over the course and distance 12 months ago and went on to finish runner-up in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, so his stamina is not in the slightest doubt. Second in the Devon National on only his second run back, he is taken to defy what on paper looks a high enough handicap mark at present. Le Jaguar kept on well when scoring at Ludlow and is young enough to make a name for himself in the staying department, so should be kept on the short-list given his trainer's record with this type, and remember, Paul Nicholls has already collected the Welsh National recently. Midnight Gunner was pulled out of a race at Warwick on Saturday to wait for this, but his absence since October is a worry, while Dunbrody Miller was going well when falling at Doncaster last time and gets weight from the rest. Brave Spirit was only just touched off by Willie John Daly in an eventful Listed affair at Sandown last time and is sure to be in the thick of the action again, while Kausse de Thaix is better than his latest Newbury run indicates, and is another that cannot be left out of calculations entirely. Toulouse-Lautrec is a model of consistency though, and gets the vote.
Cowboyboots (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 3rd to 4th, weakened after 6th, 8th of 11, 37l behind Jaunty Times (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Toulouse-Lautrec (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-12) Pecked badly 1st, prominent, led 17th, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Dead-Eyed Dick (11-4) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Le Jaguar (FR) 9-2 (11-4) In touch, joined leader 17th, led after 18th, ridden when hit 3 out, kept on flat, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec beating Tribal Dancer (10-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Brave Spirit (FR) 10-3 (10-8) Mistakes, led to after 3rd, pressed winner, blundered 19th and 2 out, rallied gamely before last, kept on run-in, just failed, 2nd of 5, shd behind Willie John Daly (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Dec.
French Executive (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) In rear, headway 23rd, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 16, 18l behind Ivoire De Beaulieu (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs 0-150 (B) gs in Dec.
Lulumar (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 30l behind Kelrev (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
Kausse de Thaix (FR) 3-1fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, led 10th, mistake 14th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 12l behind Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov.
Calvic (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakened 14th, mistake next, one pace, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Le Jaguar (11-4) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Mulligatawny (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, weakened 5 out, tailed off from 3 out, 10th of 11, well behind Magic Of Sydney (10-6) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Midnight Gunner 15-2 (11-12) Led, headed 4th, led again 5th, headed 7th, led again 12th, clear from 15th, eased flat, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Oct beating Channahrlie (10-10) by 14l, 13 ran.
Levallois (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Behind from 12th, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Moorlands Again (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Led until fell 4 out in race won by Dolmur (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
The Bandit (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) With leaders to 3rd, soon behind, 8th of 10, 31l behind Run For Paddy (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
