The Grand National Meeting opened on the Thursday with the ground officially described as “good to soft”, which was backed up by the times. This is historically not one of the stronger Grade 1s, even for novices, and this year’s renewal looks about average, the race weakened by the departure at halfway of the favourite, but the first three probably all just about running to ratings in the 150s. A 101.8% race finishing speed from three out backs up the impression that it was a reasonable test under the conditions.
PROTEKTORAT (155 here, 155 previously) was back to the form he showed when winning small-field races at Carlisle and Cheltenham impressively late last year, with a tongue tie replacing his customary hood and having had a breathing operation since last seen. He was ridden in contrasting style, also, held up and creeping nearer, edging right before ridden to lead at the last, then staying on best for pressure. He is probably better at this sort of trip than shorter but would not be certain to get 24f.
THE SHUNTER (151 here, 148 previously) continues to go from strength to strength, and might have made a real race of it with the winner with more fluent jumping late on, going with enthusiasm close up, every chance in the home straight but making mistakes at each of the last three and rallying on the run-in. He has done splendidly for connections this term, winning five out of nine, from 16f to 21f and over both hurdles and fences. There could still be more to come.
HITMAN (151 here, 153 previously) was close to form but underlined that speed rather than stamina is his strong suit, at least while he takes as good a hold as he did here, leading at the ninth, pecking at the eleventh, but looking like taking a lot of passing until headed at the last and weakening on the run-in. A return to two miles, at which trip he ran Allmankind to two and a half lengths in a fast time at Sandown on just his second chase start, could yet see him make up into a high-class performer.
PHOENIX WAY (140 here, 144 previously) is lightly raced and may still improve, though he is likely to be useful rather than better, set plenty to do in an attempt to get him to settle and never really on terms. He has (somewhat surprisingly given his free-going nature) won at 25f over hurdles already.
ELDORADO ALLEN (136 here, 150 previously) might have been expected to benefit from the longer trip but did not run much of a race, held up and making no impression when asked.
UMBRIGADO (112 here, 149 previously) had a bit to find but simply ran poorly, not fluent at times and in trouble some way out.
FUSIL RAFFLES (153 previously) was leading when making a mistake at the ninth and pulled up after the next, found to have bled from his nose.
