See also » Longhouse-Poet-on-track-for-National-after-landing-Down-Royal-feature
He needed to do that. JJ had a bit of a mishap with him in Fairyhouse in the Bobbyjo so we wanted to get them to gel a bit more. It would be (important) when you are going around there (Aintree). He jumped great and handles the ground and it was lovely to see. He was (value for the winning margin), you would never know how much you have left with him as he just only does enough. When something comes to him, he stretches them a little bit again. He did (run a cracker for a long way in the Grand National). He probably over-raced himself, he was very fresh on the day. That's why I wanted to get a race closer to the National into him, so he wouldn't be too buzzed up. Darragh (O'Keeffe) gave him a great ride (in the Grand National), he had a fantastic round of jumping and all roads lead back there now. Martin Brassil, trainer

Permission was given for Bravemansgame (FR), Conflated (IRE), ROYAL PAGAILLE (FR) and Sounds Russian to wear a red hood to post and Noble Yeats (IRE) to be mounted on the course.

Noble Yeats (IRE) also wore earplugs which were removed at the start.

Bravemansgame (FR), ridden by Harry Cobden and trained by Paul Nicholls had failed to parade.

The rider and the trainer were interviewed.

Cobden’s explanation was accepted that Bravemansgame (FR) and Noble Yeats (IRE) had both been given permission to parade early, however they had only managed to leave the parade ring shortly before the balance of the field.

Bravemansgame (FR) was fractious in the chute and the Parade Ring Manager had ordered them both to proceed straight to the start for safety reasons.

Nicholls was advised to ensure that when seeking Privileges of this nature, to have his runners in the Parade Ring timeously to allow for the Parade.

The Starter reported that Derek Fox, the rider of Ahoy Senor (IRE), Jordan Gainford, the rider of Hewick (IRE), Sean Quinlan, the rider of Sounds Russian (IRE) and Mr P W Mullins, the rider of Stattler (IRE) had failed to approach the tape at a walk or a jig-jog having become detached from another group of runners.

The riders and the Starter were interviewed and having heard their explanations and viewed recordings of the incident, and being satisfied that it was caused by a miscommunication, the Stewards took no further action.

After jumping the fifth last, A Plus Tard (FR), which was later pulled up, and Conflated (IRE), placed third, were hampered by the two fallers but after viewing a recording of the incident, it was found that there was no riding offence involved.