tracked leader until 5th, dropped to last at 7th, struggling from 9th, soon tailed, pulled up 3 out
keen held up in touch, headway to lead at 5th, joined 8th, ridden to lead 10th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly next, distant 3rd when virtually pulled up flat
tracked leaders, tracked leader 11th, led narrowly 2 out, headed flat
in touch in rear, headway 10th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, rallied to lead again flat
led, ridden and headed 10th, outpaced next, jumped right last, left 3rd flat
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Unwanted Gift does have winning form on heavy ground over fences, at Hereford in May, and that's enough to earn Andy Hobbs' gelding a place on the short-list in this modest heat even though he was well beaten in a selling hurdle 10 days ago. Billy Cuckoo was only beaten half-a-length on heavy going at Carlisle recently and races off the same mark here but he was earlier beaten 19 lengths behind PICKWORTH over 2m4f here. The latter should be able to confirm that form on 9lb worse terms and can return to winning ways having got taken off his feet on quicker ground at Musselburgh next time.
Pickworth (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, headway before 5 out, went 5th before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 10, 40l behind Bhaltair (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Chase (0-120) (4yo+) (4) gs.
Unwanted Gift (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leader until after 1st, stayed in 3rd, ridden and no chance with leading duo before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 6th of 9, 41l behind Not Til Monday (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd/am sll hdl (5) hvy.
Glen Countess (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Rydalis (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f Mares Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Gorey Lane (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, left poor 4th 6 out, blundered 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 7, well behind Thorncliffer (9-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Whiskey Ridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division in 5th when jumped awkward and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Tutchec (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft, 10 ran.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Close up, led 4th, ridden and headed last 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Tipsy Dara (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Truckers Benefit (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up in 5th, not fluent 1st, hampered 3rd, headway 9th, tracking leaders when brought down 4 out, in a race won by Armedanddangerous (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft, 6 ran.
