always towards rear, slow jump 8th, no impression on outer from 4 out, never a factor
led from 2nd and made rest, jumped well, went clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, easily
tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, ridden from next, moderate 4th 2 out, went 2nd without threatening easy winner run-in
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 5 out, no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders, moderate 5th 5 out, weakened from next
held up in rear, moderate 6th 5 out, headway into moderate 3rd next, soon ridden, moderate 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd run-in
soon tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd 3 out, no impression before next, kept on one paced
SEABASS, a close third in last year's Grand National, was trained for the race this year and though he ran well for a long way he weakened quickly from three out. He's had a nice break and with a more conventional programme can start making up for lost time. Rathlin has been alternating between hurdles and fences and produced an impressive victory over Supreme Doc and Treacle at Killarney. He's an obvious threat in that kind of form and the placed horses look held. After three runs over fences in the autumn, Jetson reverted to hurdling and has done very well to finish close up in several very tough handicaps. He looks a real threat though the concession of 6lb to the battle-hardened selection may just prove beyond him.
Jetson (IRE) 6-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 20, 3/4l behind Battle Group (11-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Rathlin 11-2 (11-9) Tracked leader and disputed at times, in front 6 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Killarney 2m 4f chs sft beating Supreme Doc (10-11) by 9l, 6 ran.
Treacle (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led, headed and mistake 6 out, remained prominent, dropped to moderate 3rd and kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Rathlin (11-9) at Killarney 2m 4f chs sft.
Our Victoria (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 47l behind Tarla (11-7) at Limerick 2m 3f Mares Chase (5yo+) sft.
Sole Witness (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, joined when bad mistake 3 out, soon under pressure in 4th, no impression from 2 out, 6th of 15, well behind Pineau De Re (11-7) at Downpatrick 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 gd in Apr.
Supreme Doc (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Soon chased leaders, in pursuit of winner in 2nd 2 out, mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Rathlin (11-9) at Killarney 2m 4f chs sft.
Shabra Charity (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place 3 out, moderate 4th and kept on same pace from before straight, 5th of 7, well behind Tarla (11-7) at Limerick 2m 3f Mares Chase (5yo+) sft.
Seabass (IRE) 11-2fav (11-6) In touch, bumped and mistake 21st, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened last, 13th of 40, well behind Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gs in Apr.
