led to 11th, jumped left 5 out, kept on from 3 out
tracked leader, led and not fluent 11th, headed 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 11th
in touch and in rear, went 3rd from 10th, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, clear before last, kept on well
Kris Cross comes here instead of a novice event at Ayr yesterday. He rallied bravely to get the better of a reluctant Polisky in a handicap at Ascot in November but is 8lb higher now which means he meets the more experienced LIVELY BARON on level terms. Donald McCain's stayer is a bit of a character but did run Harouet close off a higher mark at Carlisle in the autumn and is 3lb lower than his last winning mark. He might enjoy this small field so gets the nod as Rossini's Dancer looks to be in the handicapper's grip and Isla Pearl Fisher might not be the force of old.
Rossini's Dancer 16-1 (11-0) Reluctant to start, trotted into start, tracked leader until lost place 2nd, towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Kruzhlinin (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Kris Cross (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Chased leaders, mistake 12th, led bypassing omitted 14th, driven before 2 out, headed just before last, over 2 lengths down flat, rallied as leader idled to regain lead final strides, won at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Polisky (11-1) by hd, 10 ran.
Lively Baron (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden 16th, weakened next, 6th of 11, 47l behind Nuts N Bolts (11-11) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Isla Pearl Fisher 20-1 (11-6) Raced wide and held up last, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly and ridden 10th, never on terms, last of 7, 24l behind Tutchec (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
