held up in touch, left 3rd 6th, lost place 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last
tracked leaders, left clear 2nd 6th, mistake 8th, quickened to lead before last, drew well clear flat, easily
held up in rear in touch, left 4th 6th, chased leading pair 2 out, soon ridden, kept on from last to go 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leader until fell 6th
in touch when fell 2nd (water)
led, hit 8th, headed before last, soon ridden, no chance with winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish
A decent contest to start the meeting and James Ewart is double-handed. Bishops Heir ran well for a long way on his return from injury at Kelso while Signalman was second over C&D last month following a pipe-opener at Carlisle, though has something to find with Stopped Out on that run. Kate Walton's six-year-old could find this trip on the sharp side, however, and BOLD SIR BRIAN is preferred. He caught a tartar in Kudu Country last time but his earlier second at Carlisle looks solid enough and his jumping is improving with experience.
Bishops Heir 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, chased winner before last until one pace soon after, 5th of 12, 13l behind Storm Surge (10-1) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 4-9fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort to join winner 3 out, ridden and outpaced by winner approaching last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Kudu Country (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Rich Lord 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 7th, soon pushed along and lost place, outpaced from 3 out, kept on run-in to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Lightening Rod (11-0) at Hexham 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Signalman 7-2 (10-13) Led, headed before 2nd, tracked leader, led again before 6th, ridden and headed run-in, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Lightening Rod (11-0) at Hexham 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Stopped Out 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch in 4th, chased winner before 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Notus De La Tour (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Empress Orchid 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division on inside, weakened 3 out, 11th of 18, 33l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
About Thyne (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Sivola De Sivola (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
A Patchy Dancer (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside and closer order when mistake 4th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after next, in a race won by High Ransom (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
