led, not fluent 7th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader until before 3 out, soon outpaced, went 3rd and stayed on approaching last, no impression
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, driven approaching last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, lost touch before 6th, well held after
held up in rear, pushed along before 4th, lost touch approaching 7th, well behind when blundered 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear on outside, jumped left 5th, shaken up 7th, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression before next, lost 3rd approaching last
Dark Dune finished well ahead of disappointing stablemate Getabuzz at Sedgefield earlier this month but he'll probably be back over fences in the near future. Local Hero is capable of running well fresh and the booking of McCoy catches the eye but the ground will be softer than ideal. His trainer, Steve Gollings, also formerly trained CONQUISTO but the 10-year-old is now in the care of Brian Ellison. His second to Volnay De Thaix at Huntingdon in November showed he was still capable of decent form and he gets the vote here getting 6lb from gutsy front-runner Stopped Out taking into account their riders' claims.
Stopped Out 5-1 (11-12) Led and clear, headed 2 out, lost 2nd place last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Cultram Abbey (10-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy.
Conquisto 20-1 (10-7) Prominent, went 2nd from 2 out, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Local Hero (GER) 9-4 (11-10) Chased leading pair, ridden 7th, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, weakened run-in, 4th of 5, 9l behind Gold Futures (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Jul.
Tikkandemickey (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, mistake 6 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind Cultram Abbey (10-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy.
Rival D'Estruval (FR) 18-1 (11-2) In rear, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Cultram Abbey (10-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy.
Dark Dune (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, soon went 2nd, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Just Cameron (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Getabuzz 7-1 (11-10) In rear, weakened from 3 out, last of 5, well behind Just Cameron (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Minella Fiveo (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Close up, led from 3rd, headed last, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 7l behind Walser (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
