tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led before next, in command from 2 out, steadied last, ridden out
held up in last, closed after 7th, right in behind leaders when brought down 4 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 7th, every chance 4 out, jumped left and stumbled slightly 3 out, beaten 2 out, stayed on flat, just failed to get 2nd
jumped right, pressed leader until led after 2nd, headed when fell 4 out
raced keenly, led until after 2nd, pressed leader, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, beaten approaching last, just held on for 2nd
DUSK arrives here at the top of his game and is taken to go in again ahead of top weight Magot De Grugy and Tim Vaughan's Guitar Rory. The selection has won three races in quick succession, the last of which coming over this trip on Monday at Ffos Las, and provided his exertions have not taken their toll the four-year-old should prove hard to beat here with the assistance of the capable Peter Toole in the saddle. Evan Williams's charge acts on soft and stays further than this so should cope with conditions and is very hard to ignore at the foot of the weights so looks worth following until beaten whilst in this sort of form. The handicapper will of course catch up eventually but this doesn't look the strongest of races and he can prove he's been well placed by his handler by going in again. Magot De Grugy ran well when taking third on his seasonal reappearance last time and could prove the main danger to our selection if building on that. Jimmy Derham takes 3lb off the horse's back today and that will at least help ease the welter burden of top weight, but it is difficult to envisage the horse successfully conceding 10lb to likely favourite Dusk if that one remains in good heart. Guitar Rory makes his second start for Tim Vaughan here and merits respect having been sent off a well-backed but ultimately disappointing favourite over hurdles last time. That day the trainer did state that fences would be his game and with conditions likely to suit he could prove his last run all wrong here. Of the rest perhaps Mr Pickle can build on his average seasonal reappearance last time whilst Afistfullofpebbles has age on his side but they'll all have to go some to beat Dusk today and he is our pick.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Prominent, led 11th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd last, no extra flat, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Afistfullofpebbles 40-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, blundered 4th, in rear and struggling from 6th, 8th of 11, 30l behind Green Belt Elite (11-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Shaka's Pearl (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Guitar Rory (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Chased leader, led 2nd to 4th, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, 31l behind Ballygulleen (10-4) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Mr Prickle (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders to 4 out, 6th of 14, 23l behind Far More Serious (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Dusk 6-4 (11-5) Held up in close 4th, tracked leading pair 8th (4 out), challenged next, switched left approaching last, every chance when pecked and left clear last, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f am hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft beating Russellstown Boy (11-8) by 6l, 4 ran.
