led until after 5th, stayed prominent until weakened approaching 2 out, hit last
held up in mid-division, smooth headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, narrow lead last, drew right away towards finish
raced wide throughout, tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, not fluent, narrowly headed last, no chance with winner, run-in
always behind, ridden, struggling after 5th, soon tailed off
in touch, weakened under pressure 3 out, 7th, well beaten when mistake next
always behind, tailed off 6th
awkward 1st, tracked leaders, led after 5th, headed approaching 2 out, one pace
keen hold, held up in rear, soon headway after 6th, soon weakened
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, one pace, no impression when hung left approaching last
close up, hit 3 out, weakening when mistake next
chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, tailed off 6th
Dusky Lord can come out on top over College Ace and the other penalised contender Idris, with It Would Appear and Reach For The Top seen as the main dangers. Nick Gifford's father Josh used to rule the roost in Sussex, and the current Findon incumbent also pays to follow round here. Dusky Lord finished third on his bumper bow round here last April, and ended up contesting the Aintree Bumper in which he finished 11th. The son of Lord Americo overcame an absence to make a winning debut over hurdles at Plumpton in October, beating Turbo narrowly, and today's extra two furlongs will help his cause as he has his first outing since. His dam is a sister to the Gifford's high-class chaser Deep Sensation and he will no doubt be going down that road himself one day, but for the time being he can prove himself to be more than useful over timber. College Ace is fit, and the horse that beat him at Hereford, Five Colours, has since run well in defeat at Leicester, so the Hobbs challenger looks a serious threat. It Would Appear has shaped well enough without looking like a world-beater, while Reach For The Top is held by College Ace on latest running. An interesting contest can go to Dusky Lord.
College Ace (IRE) 11-8 (11-11) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Five Colours (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Dusky Lord 7-2 (11-2) In touch, tracked leading pair 5th, led before 3 out, jumped left last, all out, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Oct beating Turbo (11-2) by a nk, 16 ran.
Idris (GER) 15-8 (11-10) Chased leader, challenged and every chance 2 out, soon ridden, ran on same pace flat, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Raffaello (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Allborn Lad (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Jumped left throughout, led until 2nd, with leader until 7th, weakening when hit next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nero West (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
It Would Appear (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up, headway 4th, chased winner and hung left approaching 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Clyffe Hanger (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (C) gs in Nov.
Lord Musgrave (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 14, well behind Au Courant (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Portland Bill (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Chased leader, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on one pace, 5th of 14, 23l behind Au Courant (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Posh Act 100-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 10th of 14, well behind Idris (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Reach For The Top (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, mistake 4th, ridden when mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 16, 13l behind Five Colours (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Royal Stardust 50-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, effort approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 5th of 19, 13l behind Blu Teen (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Scalini's (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up, pushed along approaching next, lost place 7th, tailed off, 5th of 6, 30l behind Tokala (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Jan.
Popsleebobross (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Ridden in rear 7f out, always behind, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Colline de Fleurs (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) sft in Jan.
