tracked leaders, lost place before 9th, soon in rear and struggling, tailed off
led to 7th, led again approaching 9th, headed 10th, left in lead 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, regained lead run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd at 4th, led 7th, headed approaching 9th, led next, going well when fell 11th
held up in touch and keen, went 3rd from 8th, left 2nd at 11th, jumped left 5 out, weakened before 3 out
held up in touch, headway in 3rd when not fluent 5 out, joined leader 3 out, led next, hit last, headed run-in, rallied to regain lead towards finish
held up in rear, struggling from 11th, tailed off
LOCKED INTHEPOCKET won with the proverbial ton in hand over this trip at Ayr on Saturday. Even with the 7lb penalty, Pauline Robson's lightly-raced gelding looks to be several steps ahead of the handicapper and a clear round should see him follow up here. Guns And Butter has been placed in five of his nine starts over the larger obstacles, including over C&D last time, and should make the frame again while Rossini's Dancer finished ahead of Posh Bird over 3m here last month and re-opposes on better terms today. Quinder Spring won at Market Rasen and Hexham in the autumn but looks high enough in the weights now and a better long-term prospect may be Chapolimoss, who is from the same family as a number of decent chasers and has been lightly campaigned over hurdles.
Posh Bird (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, ridden into 7th entering straight, moderate 6th 2 out, stayed on in 5th last, left 4th, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 18, 18l behind Dundrum (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chase.
Quinder Spring (FR) 10-1 (10-4) Mid-division, chased leaders 13th, went 2nd 3 out, no extra from last, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 14, 10l behind General Hardi (10-11) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Locked Inthepocket (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, eased towards finish, easily, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy beating Innominate (11-3) by 22l, 10 ran.
Guns And Butter (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden along after 8th, driven in 3rd after 12th, went poor 2nd 3 out, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Nelliedonethat (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Rossini's Dancer 28-1 (11-2) Hedl up in 4th, not fluent 8th, hit next, outpaced 14th, stayed on to modest 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 19l behind On His Own (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Nonotreally 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, reminders approaching 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Emirate Isle (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Chapolimoss (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 22l behind Eighteen Carat (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
