held up in mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 16th, no extra 2 out
mid-division on outside, in touch 3rd, slow and lost place 7th, mistake next, soon behind, pulled up before 13th
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 9th, lost place before 16th, pulled up before next
chased leader until before 3 out where mistake, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped left 8th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 14th, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out
held up in rear, mistake 14th, headway 18th, not fluent 4 out, soon switched right, no extra 2 out
led, not fluent 18th, headed before 2 out, soon beaten, lost 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on outside 18th, went 2nd and mistake 2 out, every chance last, 2 lengths down 100 yards out, stayed on towards finish
in rear, mistake 1st, blundered next, well behind 15th, pulled up before next
mid-division, mistake 14th, struggling 18th, pulled up before 18th
chased leaders on outside, lost place 8th, mistake 14th, behind when pulled up before 18th
soon ridden along, not fluent 2nd, in rear after, reminders 4th, well behind 11th, pulled up before 16th
Late Romantic won twice last season and got his head back in front at Haydock. He shapes as though he will stay, though isn’t getting any younger. Walk In The Mill has placed in a Grand National but has become a bit of an Aintree specialist, though suffered an uncharacteristic fall in the Becher Chase last month in which Le Breuil finished third. Ben Pauling’s dour stayer finished fifth here last year and is 8lb lower, though has something to find with both Captain Chaos and Petite Power on that run. Storm Control is a sound jumper but there are real stamina doubts upped in trip again and he’s been pulled up in both previous starts here. NOTACHANCE (NAP) improved again on his return to action at Bangor, when he had subsequent Welsh Grand National runner-up The Two Amigos back in third. He has the most scope of these so it’s worth taking a chance that he appreciates this big step up in trip.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Held up and behind most of way, tailed off, 10th of 18, dist behind Cloth Cap (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 5-1jfav (11-2) In mid-division when fell 6th (the chair), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, some headway when blundered and unseated rider 13th, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Storm Control (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Jumped well, made all, 3 1/2 lengths clear when left with increased advantage last, suddenly started to idle badly and tried to pull himself up, looked vulnerable towards finish, quickly found extra when pressed, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Potters Legend (10-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
Le Breuil (FR) 5-1jfav (10-8) Always prominent, led 4th until next, chased leaders, 2nd again 10th, led next, hit 15th (canal turn), headed 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 14, 28 3/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Notachance (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Close up, lost place halfway, headway 3 out, led next, ridden and ran on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Captain Tommy (10-1) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
Late Romantic (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden between last 2, 3 lengths down last, closed on idling/tiring leader to lead near finish, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating The Dutchman (11-2) by hd, 7 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, reminders before 11th, weakened 13th, 11th of 16, 26 1/2l behind Cap Du Nord (10-8) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Achille (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Led, driven between last 2, ridden after last, headed flat, readily outpaced by winner closing stages, 2nd of 7, 3l behind West Approach (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Red Infantry (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In touch, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, ridden and weakened flat, 5th of 15, 14 3/4l behind The Conditional (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Django Django (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced and no impression on leaders from 14th, plugged on from 3 out, 5th of 14, dist behind Amateur (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Didero Vallis (FR) 5-1fav (10-6) Chased leaders out wide, lost place before 9th, towards rear and never on terms after, 8th of 18, dist behind Beau Bay (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Petite Power (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Midfield, ridden and lost place end of back straight, well held 4 out, no extra, 7th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Findusatgorcombe (10-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
