held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 9th, led 16th, ridden approaching last, headed flat, held close home
held up towards rear, headway 13th, struggling 16th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th (water), ridden after 13th, weakening when mistake 3 out (water), pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped sowly 13th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 10th, ridden after next, losing touch when mistake 14th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 12th, headway on outside 15th, went 2nd after 4 out, led flat, stayed on well
led until 16th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader, not fluent 6th, demoted to 3rd after 4 out, well held by front pair approaching 2 out
Back In Business looks nicely treated but he's nothing but a thorough stayer and this trip may be on the sharp side, so we'll take a chance on the returning MARUFO. Phillip Hobbs has saddled one winner from his three runners over the past fortnight and although our selection has been off the track for 394 days his last victory did come after an a break of a couple of months. That success was a ready one off 109 so this rating seems fair and providing the market makes positive noises he's worth a chance. Dusty Dane isn't ruled out as this looks easier than the race he landed last time but a 7lb rise doesn't help, while Tampa Boy looks weighted to the best of his ability. Orchard King is well treated on his hurdles form but hasn't shown enough over fences to be of serious interest while Le Forezien is out of the weights and Good Harvest needs to jump better.
Marufo (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Led, blundered 2 out, headed narrowly when fell last, in a race won by Valerius (11-4) at Southwell 3m 2f nov chs (4) gd in Jul '09, 4 ran.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hampered 1st, headway 9th, challenged 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May beating Shammy Buskins (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Tampa Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 6, 21l behind To Arms (11-2) at Ffos Las 3m nov chs (4) gf.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Close up, chased winner before 4 out until after 3 out, no impression next, 3rd of 10, 9l behind What A Scientist (10-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Orchard King (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Held up, headway and left chasing winner 7th, not fluent from 10th, no impression from 12th, weakened after 14th, 2nd of 6, 40l behind Cullahill (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in Jun.
Good Harvest (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) In touch when hit 2nd, reminder after 8th, 3rd when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 11, 44l behind Thenameescapesme (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Back In Business (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway to track leading pair 15th until pecked and dropped to 4th 17th, rallied to well held 3rd soon after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Strong Coffee (11-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Le Forezien (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway and in touch 15th, chased leading pair 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Justabout (11-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
