Tote Win £4.40 Tote Place £1.50 £3.60 £2.80 £3.30 Straight Forecast £38.96 Exacta £58.10 Trifecta £3,768.60 Swingers 1&2 £15.70, 2&3 £42.80, 1&3 £7.80

Jackpot £743.00, Pool: £126494.09, 120.86 winning tickets
Placepot £19.90, Pool: £112013.42, 4090.53 winning tickets
Quadpot £16.90, Pool: £8927.02, 390.15 winning tickets

This was no place for the faint-hearted as a moderate early gallop meant there were plenty in with a chance leaving the back straight as runners got in the way of each other. Darlan was at the centre of the carnage as he came down two out at the head of affairs. He gave Tony McCoy a horrible fall and seriously hampered Get Me Out Of Here and Alarazi in the process. Darlan was still travelling strongly and seemed to have every chance of maintaining his unbeaten record so lets hope this traumatic incident does not leave any lasting scars. ZARKANDAR was in behind a wall of horses with three to jump and his cause looked less than rosy. Ruby Walsh managed to roust him into contention and he began to make good progress to get on the heels of the front rank at the last. A slick jump helped his cause and then he showed good determination to squeeze between rivals and edge ahead in the final 100 yards to win going away. He is now clear second favourite behind Hurricane Fly for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and although more will be needed again, his trainer felt he will "come on a ton". He has done nothing wrong to date, jumps with fluency and has a great attitude so should be on the premises at the Festival. Get Me Out Of Here ran a screamer and showed tremendous toughness under his young rider. He barely batted an eyelid despite virtually tripping over the stricken Darlan and stuck on really well to the line. Raya Star followed up his win in the Ladbroke at Ascot with another excellent effort and is progressing well. He will have entries in the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. This race had been the target for Sire De Grugy for some time and his trainer produced him spot on for the big day. He was quite keen in the early stages but came through to lead two out before being swallowed up on the run-in when outstayed by the front three. A speed test around Aintree could be the right way to go with him. Not for the first time, Olofi caught the eye for the future. Well in rear during the early stages, he crept into the race up the home straight and looked a big threat from two out. He had to switch around Raya Star on the run to the last and although he jumped it well, perhaps did not find quite as much as expected. A stiffer finish at Cheltenham over two miles might help and he could be worth trying over further so the Coral Cup could be an attractive option. Sailors Warn only gave best in the final half-furlong and there could be a nice prize in him somewhere down the line. Brampour ran on from miles back and fared quite well under his big weight. He now heads for the Champion Hurdle as well as Zarkandar.