15:15 Haydock

Saturday 18 February 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 7m 25.53s

1^st

Vieux Lion Rouge

811-6

8/1

T: D PipeJ: T Scudamore

In touch, chased leaders from 15th, led before 3 out, soon pressed, kept on and held on well towards finish tchd 9/1

2^nd

3 ¼

Blaklion

811-12

7/2f

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: William Twiston-Davies

Prominent, challenged 4 out, every chance from 3 out, kept on and held last 50 yards op 4/1

3^rd

Vintage Clouds

710-10

5/1

T: J Parkinson & S SmithJ: B S Hughes

Towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd towards finish op 6/1 tchd 9/2

4^th

3 ½

Gas Line Boy

1111-4

12/1

T: Ian WilliamsJ: Adrian Heskin

Led, headed before 3 out, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish op 14/1

5^th

1 ¼

Cresswell Breeze

710-6

14/1

T: A J HoneyballJ: David Noonan (3)

Tracked leaders, ridden after 5 out, one pace from 3 out tchd 12/1

6^th

Kruzhlinin

1011-6

11/1

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: T J O'Brien

Tracked leader until 6 out, mistake and weakened from 2 out op 10/1

7^th

Warrantor

810-9

16/1

T: W GreatrexJ: G Sheehan

Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway 5 out, one pace from next op 14/1

8^th

Houblon Des Obeaux

1011-9

14/1

T: Miss V WilliamsJ: Charlie Deutsch (3)

Mid-division, weakened from 6 out op 16/1

9^th

2 ½

Vicente

811-7

10/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Towards rear, weakened from 5 out tchd 9/1

Also Ran

Wakanda

811-10

9/1

T: J Parkinson & S SmithJ: Danny Cook

In rear, weakened quickly from 15th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off, pulled up op 11/1 tchd 12/1

Tour Des Champs

1011-2

25/1

T: S DrinkwaterJ: R T Dunne

Towards rear, headway before 14th, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before next op 20/1

Goodtoknow

911-2

10/1

T: Kerry LeeJ: Jake Greenall

Tracked leaders, pushed along before 14th, soon weakened pulled up before 5 out, tailed off

Aqalim

710-11

40/1

T: Tim VaughanJ: Alan Johns (3)

Behind, pushed along before 5th, struggling from 9th, pulled up op 50/1

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Non-Runners

Doctor Harper⁵⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£9.00Pl:£3.10, £2.10, £2.10EX:£32.50Trifecta:£305.90Tricast:£158.97SF:£37.32Swingers:£6.70, £9.80, £5.90

Forecasts

Blaklion (7/2), Vintage Clouds (5/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (8/1), Wakanda (9/1), Vicente (10/1), Goodtoknow (10/1), Kruzhlinin (11/1), Gas Line Boy (12/1), Cresswell Breeze (14/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (14/1), Doctor Harper (14/1), Warrantor (16/1), Tour Des Champs (25/1), Aqalim (40/1)

A fine renewal of a race whose roll of honour includes Grand National winners Freebooter, Sundew, Party Politics and the greatest of them all, Red Rum. This time around it could go to one who has designs on the crown they once held in VIEUX LION ROUGE. David Pipe's charge ran seventh in the big one last year when only seven-years-old and he looks better equipped this time. He goes well here and the forecast ground holds no fears; there still looks to be more to come from the Becher Chase winner. Blaklion will be very popular and is a real tough cookie who can go close, while both Gas Line Boy and Vintage Clouds can continue to improve and pick up some prize money. 1. Vieux Lion Rouge 2. Blaklion 3. Vintage Clouds

Prize Money

1st: £42,712.002nd: £16,028.003rd: £8,025.004th: £3,998.005th: £2,010.006th: £1,005.00