held up, headway approaching 8th, tracked winner, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders throughout, ridden 8th, weakened 2 out
led, headed after 7th, mistake 8th, weakened next
tracked leader, led after 7th, mistake 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, ran on
Brendan Powell seems to have found a good opportunity for Sunley Shines to score over fences and he is taken to score today at the main expense of Magot De Grugy. The selection receives weight from the three other runners and having posted two decent efforts of late (the latter behind Nippy Des Mottes), he could be hard to beat. Today's better ground looks sure to suit having run well on good to soft and good to firm in the past and he gets the confident nomination. Magot De Grugy hasn't looked a natural over fences and has been well beaten in all five of those starts. The stable are not in form and he looks opposable, as do Rustic John and Guns Of Love who appear very mediocre at best. This looks simple for Sunley Shines and he gets the confident vote.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, mistake 9th, jumped slowly 10th, soon ridden, in touch 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, last of 5, 41l behind Seafield Bogie (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Rustic John 33-1 (9-12) In touch, lost place 7th, jumped slowly 8th, soon in rear, 12th of 16, 48l behind Mighty Moose (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Guns of Love (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, led to 4th, chased leader until approaching 8th, soon weakened, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up in race won by Ange De Villez (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Sunley Shines 11-4 (10-9) Led, hit 2nd after 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Jan.
