Hobbs said: “I am very pleased with that. He is a very difficult horse to place – he must have a level track and some easy ground and he does not stay three miles so there are not many races to really suit him.

“He is about 20lb off top class and I think we will have to have a look at the two and a half mile handicap (betfredpoker.com Handicap Chase) at Sandown next weekend.”

Timmy Murphy was fined £130 for arriving in the parade ring after the signal to mount had been given.

Richard McGrath completed a double on King Barry and Into The Shadows to take his score for the season to 39, leaving himself just two short of his personal best.

Trainer Pauline Robson produced King Barry fi and ready after a more than two month absence to win the Business Solutions Scotland Run Faster With Xerox Novices’ Handicap Chase by ten lengths.

Winning owner Ray Green said of the 3-1 favourite: “King Barry is a progressive sort, he is still a bit novicy and we gave him a break because he did not like the heavy ground. He will now run at Perth next Friday.”

However, Green’s Cita Verda, who was due to run in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle, missed the race because of a setback and has been retired.

Green added: “It is a great pity but she has won five races, three of them here. She has also had a foal by Groom Dancer and she may go back to him now.”

The race went to Keith Reveley’s consistent Into The Shadows (evens favourite), and McGrath, who was completing his brace, said: “She is a grand mare and has been running well on the Flat too.”

McGrath had been looking forward to riding Ossmoses in the Scottish National but now rides Shotgun Willy.

He added: “The ground went against Ossmoses. It is a pity because he was really bouncing, but although he is nine he has not had a lot of racing and there is plenty to look forward to with him.”

According To John extended his unbeaten sequence to four this season with a decisive success in the hands of Tony Dobbin in the Royal Bank Of Scotland “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Leading after four out, he stayed on to beat Zipalong Lad by three and half lengths.

The winner is owned by Sir Robert Ogden, whose racing manager Barry Simpson said: “We were going to run According To John at Aintree earlier this month but he got balloted out so it was nice to find another opportunity here.”

Richards added: “According To John is not a bad sort, he has a grand attitude and will make a nice staying chaser next season.”

Alistair Whillans and his son Ewan teamed up to take the Walker Laird Solicitors at Paisley & Renfrew with Sotovik (16-1) and the former said: “He deserved that, he has been running well, and I think the ground has made the difference.

“He is still a big baby and we will give him another season hurdling before he goes chasing.”

Wilson Renwick sustained soft tissue damage when Aberdare ran out at the fourth flight and was stood down for the day but is expected to ride on Saturday.

Paul Moloney and Paddy Brennan failed to make it to the course because of technical problems with their flight and the former missed a winning ride in the Glenlivet Handicap Chase, with Wayne Hutchinson deputising on Tom George’s Calvic.

Ray Green’s colours were carried to victory for a second time when Reap The Reward, trained by Len Lungo and ridden by Gary Berridge, won the concluding West Sound Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Lungo said: “A percentage of our horses have had a viral infection and I did not really know what to expect of him, but he has done it well.

“I can’t wait for this season to end and start the new one with some fresh lungs.”