Not For Diamonds prominent, chased leader 6th to 7th, ridden to go 2nd again before 3 out, stayed on under pressure to lead last 100yds, all out

Storm Talk took keen hold, held up in midfield, mistake 4th, ridden after 10th, effort under pressure 2 out, not much room last, closing at finish

Push The Port in touch, pushed along from 9th, slightly outpaced next, kept on under pressure from 3 out, closed 2 out, took 3rd near finish

Knocker Jock took keen hold, led and tended to jump right, hard pressed 2 out, not fluent last, headed final 100yds, lost 2 places near finish

Coeur D´Alene chased leaders, ridden from 9th, effort 3 out, chasing leaders and close up 2 out, weakened flat

Adlestrop held up in last pair, progress 9th, tracked leading pair next and going well, weakened before 2 out

Overjoyed held up in rear, mistake 10th and ridden, soon lost touch, modest progress before 3 out, soon no headway

Purr held up in last, lost touch from 7th, well behind after

Sister Grace chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 10th, tailed off

Miss Sallyfield prominent, chased leader from 6th until before 3 out, weakened rapidly, 7th when pulled up before 2 out

The Mystery Man chased leader to 6th, mistake 8th, weakened 10th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out

Miserable weather provided the backdrop to a pretty miserable card. Despite prolonged rain from late morning onwards, conditions were still officially described as good with good to firm places for this first race, and the jockeys agreed that the ground was at this stage no worse than good, albeit very wet and loose on top.

A largely motley crew lined up for a novices' staying handicap hurdle whose top weight raced off just 95. It did, at least, produce an exciting finish with four horses in contention after the final flight.

NOT FOR DIAMONDS emerged victorious and deserves plenty of credit for doing so, having been bang up there from the start. Representing an in-form stable, he confirmed that stamina is his forte and, in winning, erased the memory of a below par performance at Hereford when clearly a long way off his best.

Supporters of Storm Talk might well call themselves unlucky, as the horse might have won but for finding herself short of room at the last hurdle, where Knocker Jock drifted right under pressure.

Storm Talk, who had raced keenly and lost her place going out on to the final circuit before rallying, was then also a little stuck for racing room for a few vital moments after the concluding hurdle, and there is little doubt that she would have won in a few more strides.

Top weight Push The Port, like Storm Talk, was outpaced about a mile from home but, also like Storm Talk, fought back gamely. He clearly has little in the way of speed, but is lightly raced and should continue to progress.

It seemed inconceivable going to the last that the front-running Knocker Jack would not get placed, but he was run out of it close home after running around badly going to the flight. He looked green under pressure, which should not have been the case given his experience, but he raced from out the back in most of his previous contests, and so may not yet fully appreciate what to do when push comes to shove. Another factor is that he has still not learnt to settle, even when in front, and until he does he will remain vulnerable.

Coeur d'Alene ran a fair sort of race, finishing one place ahead of Adlestrop, who travelled like a winner for a long way but seemed not to get home after getting into a challenging position.

Miss Sallyfield and The Mystery Man both weakened very quickly, while Purr, not for the first time, raced out the back and never got into it.

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