BARTON, the pride of Ryedale, failed in his bid to gain Cheltenham glory on Tuesday.

Tim Easterby's 13-times winner lined up for the £125,000 Irish Independent Arkle Chase over two miles, but finished out of the money.

Having tracked the leaders, jumping well, Barton suddenly began to send out distress signals three fences from home as the action reached fever-pitch.

By the second last, the writing was on the wall, as jockey Tony Dobbin was getting no response from his mount.

The main prize went to four-lengths winner Moscow Flyer, with Seebald, the favourite, finishing second and Armaturk in third.

Truckers Tavern, trained by Ferdy Murphy at Middleham, claimed fourth prize, with Barton crossing the line a well-beaten seventh of the ten finishers.

Dobbin gained some compensation later in the day when he notched a 20-1 success in the Pertemps Hurdle Final on Freetown, trained in Scotland by Len Lungo. Ryedale horses Latalomne and Turgeonev were also out of the money in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase. Latalomne fell at the second fence from home, while leading the race, and Tergeonev finished well down the field. The favourite Flagship Uberalles won the race.

Updated: 10:31 Thursday, March 14, 2002