tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden and strongly pressed 3f out, soon narrowly headed, in front again towards finish
led until 4f out, lost 2nd 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, pushed along inside final 4f, weakened final 2f
last pair, pushed along and struggling 4f out, never on terms
raced in close 3rd, pushed along inside final mile, soon lost place and behind, plugged on again in modest 3rd final furlong
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, travelling well over 3f out, 3rd and one pace final 2f, no chance with leading duo, weakened into 4th final furlong
held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders 3f out, challenged 3f out, soon slight lead, edged left final furlong, headed towards finish
Hard Iron wasn’t disgraced when fourth at Musselburgh and is a likely improver but Chase A Fortune never threatened the winner when second at Sedgefield and was beaten 16 lengths. AIN’T NO SUNSHINE is a half-brother to five winning jumpers and also a winner on the Flat. He has the ideal pedigree for a race like this and the booking of Brian Hughes is a further positive. Fellow newcomer Fog On The Tyne could also be interesting.
Ain't No Sunshine (IRE) Shantou gelding out of Screaming Witness.
Big Arthur 100-1 (11-0) Prominent on inside, pushed along and lost place over 3f out, soon well beaten, 10th of 11, dist behind Holmes St Georges (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Gie It Laldy 28-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, every chance 2f out, soon ridden and no extra in 3rd, weakened final furlong, last of 5, 13 3/4l behind Burn The Evidence (10-13) at Ayr 2m (3) hvy in Jan.
Fog On The Tyne (IRE) Malinas M out of Flaming Poncho.
Bolt Man 40-1 (10-3) Gave trouble before start, always behind, tailed off final 5f, last of 8, dist behind Prairie Wolf (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gd in Jan.
Chase A Fortune 25-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, steady headway out wide tracking leaders over 5f out, went 3rd over 4f out, plugged on into 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Ontherouge (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) gs in Jan.
Eloi Du Puy (FR) Jeu St Eloi gelding out of Martalina.
Hard Iron (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, 4th and held over 2f out stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Holmes St Georges (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Midnight Fiddler Midnight Legend gelding out of Overlady.
Blame Rose (IRE) Sholokhov M out of Christmas Cracker.
Grady Gaston (IRE) Dawn Approach gelding out of Hazium.
