held up, jumped slowly 7th and 8th, not fluent 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on front pair
led utnil 3rd, led next, ridden and joined last, headed flat, held close home
held up in touch, took keen hold, hit 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression 2 out
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd when not fluent 6th, ridden after 4 out, 3rd and beaten before last, weakened flat
took keen hold, always prominent, led 3rd until 4th, challenged last, driven out
Nonrunner
Tartan Snow was entered to run here yesterday and is often let down by his jumping, though did score at Carlisle and Kelso last season beating Gringo on the latter occasion. Front-runner Professor Higgins can be difficult to peg back if allowed an easy lead and Paul Gallagher takes off a useful 5lb. QUITO DU TRESOR has run into a bit of form, however, and finished in front of Professor Higgins and Fred Bojangals at Ayr last after an excellent fifth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. Lucinda Russell's gelding can return to winning ways in this.
Gringo 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden from last, went 3rd run-in, kept on, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Tartan Snow (10-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 1st or 5th, headway 7th, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, 4th and beaten last, 4th of 10, 9l behind Beggars Cap (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, steadied 2nd, struggling 7th, weakened next, 9th of 10, 38l behind Beggars Cap (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Prominent on outside, reminders after 8th, weakening when mistake 3 out, 7th of 10, 33l behind Beggars Cap (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd.
Regent's Secret (USA) 33-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, last of 11, 35l behind Pyracantha (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Tartan Snow 13-2 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led run-in, ran on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar beating My Moment (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.