Offshore Account (9 year old carrying 10-13)
One of the least exposed horses over fences in this race but he's won 4 of his 6 Chases, including a Grade One Novice event. Obviously had his problems because he wasn't seen after December 2007 before making a satisfactory reappearance over hurdles at Navan last month. This is his first excursion into handicap company and he would be on a good mark if he were to repeat that Grade One form of this time two years ago. There's plenty of stamina in his breeding, although his DamSire's progeny have an awful record in the National, and if he doesn't 'bounce' he could go well, despite his inexperience. The fact he has had only one outing this season could give the impression that he is a frail individual but at his current price there are a lot of worse outsiders.

Parson's Legacy (11 year old carrying 10-12)
An admin error kept him out of this race last year and, despite pulling up at Cheltenham last time out, he comes into this race with plenty of positives. He is bred to stay extreme trips and it may be no coincidence that arguably his best performance came in the 2007 Scottish National. That close third came from a 12 pound lower mark but his win on his reappearance over 25 furlongs at Cheltenham in October from a mark of 140 suggests today's mark could still be very reasonable, given he is likely to improve for this stiffer test. He can make mistakes but his ability to go well fresh, handle the ground and probable ability to stay extreme trips are all positives which could see him run well.

Reveillez (10 year old carrying 10-12)
Had some decent form top his name two seasons ago but had his problems since. Off the track for 21 months prior to reappearing at Cheltenham in January and hasn't cut much ice in both his races since. The return to quicker ground will help but I'm sure Mr McCoy will have been well aware of his progress and his absence suggests his current level of ability is not what it once was.

Fundamentalist (11 year old carrying 10-11)
Provided so much promise when winning the RSA Novices at Cheltenham in 2004 but, after a bright start as a Novice over fences, he has never been able to reach the upper echelons as a Chaser. Fell at the third in this race last year and has pulled up in three of his last four races. Looks a doubtful stayer with jumping issues and still three pounds higher than for his last win.

Golden Flight (10 year old carrying 10-11)
Off for almost two years prior to running for the first time in this country at the Festival last month. Soundly beaten there and didn't impress with his jumping either. Most unlikely to be able to justify a mark of 145 and doubtful he would be as short as 66/1 if it were not for his connections. Apparently purchased with this race in mind but things have obviously not gone to plan and he would have to improve dramatically from that opening run to get involved in this. Time to jack it in if this wins I'm afraid.

L'Ami (10 year old carrying 10-11)
Seems to have taken on a new lease of life recently but it has come in Cross Country events and they bear little semblance to today's task. Well beaten in this race in 2007 and fell at the second last year. All of his victories have come on slower ground andit's not difficult to see him struggle to keep up with the speedier/younger/more lightly raced types. Heart for a battle is also questionable.

Battlecry (8 year old carrying 10-10)
Had some high class Novice form to his name last season, with a creditable third to Albertas Run in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival before chasing home Big Buck's in the Mildmay Chase at the National meeting. Very disappointing at Kempton when last seen and the worry is that his jumping doesn't seem to be improving. However it has to be said his stable were out of form when he ran at Kempton and the ground was heavy when he disappointed at Cheltenham prior to that. Given his jumping was 'novicey' in his first two races this season they could be considered decent efforts having got within ten lengths of Barber's Shop and eight lengths of Ornais. His jumping does give cause for concern though and the fact that Paddy Brennan has deserted him for a far from foot perfect stable mate is also a slight worry. However, if he takes to the fences and gets his jumping in order, he could be swinging along at the sharp end, and we’re getting a very good price on a very classy animal who could be a bit of a handicap blot, so it looks well worth taking a chance.

Cornish Sett (10 year old carrying 10-10)
Finished 12th in this race last year but very capable when the mood takes him. That's not very often though and from a four pound higher mark than last season it's difficult to see where any improvement is going to come from. A second in the Welsh National in Decemeber shows what he can do but he followed that by throwing a moody at Haydock last time out.

Fleet Street (10 year old carrying 10-10)
Doubtful stayer, sketchy jumper and doesn't seem to have the heart for a battle these days. His win at Kempton in December has forced his mark up to 144 and, in a race of this nature, that looks beyond him on all available evidence.

Musica Bella (9 year old carrying 10-10)
Impossible to say how good (or bad) she is but French bred and has never raced in this country or on fast ground. Never won over three miles and, although her handler is respected, the record of such types in the National make her easy to dismiss.

Cant Buy Time (7 year old carrying 10-9)
Improved to win four handicaps this season, the last from a 30 pound higher mark than the first. A combination of the handicapper's attention and the four mile trip seemed to find him out at Cheltenham last time out and his stamina for today's race has to be questioned after that. Had a hard race there as well and that could have taken a lot out of him.

Darkness (10 year old carrying 10-9)
Possibly the best handicapped horse in the race and seemingly as good as ever since returning in November from a 31 month absence from the track. Facile winner of a veteran's race from today's mark last time out but this will prove much tougher. Gives the impression he will stay but he is prone to errors and doesn't always convince in the hurly burly of a big field. It's a testament to his ability that he is able to win despite not jumping fluently but it must be doubtful he can do that over these obstacles. A likely big player if he does relish the experience.

Irish Invader (8 year old carrying 10-9)
Won a three mile Novice hurdle a couple of seasons back but only been seen over that trip on a few occasions since. He was till travelling well when coming down in the Kerry National over three miles in September but his ability to stay much further isn't proven. Handles the ground and, wouldn't be weighted out of this, but it's not difficult to imagine that there will be some who will relish the last mile or so of this race more than him. However his Trainer sent out Hedgehunter to win this and he was quick to nominate it as Irish Invader's target after his last win over much shorter at Thurles.

Rambling Minster (11 year old carrying 10-9)
Satisfies most of the strong trends for this and comes into the race on a steep upward curve. Took the rise to today's mark in his stride when winning at Haydock last time out and has winning form over as far as four miles. Recent wins have come on softer ground but had plenty of winning form on faster earlier in his career. Jumps well and Trainer's concern that he may be upset by the prelims seems the only negative. Current odds of around 10/1 don't make much appeal though.