Lark rises to the occasion on his first outing for Walford

Dusky Lark proved the old saying ‘a change is as good as a rest’ still holds water when winning the feature 2m4f handicap chase on his first start for new trainer Robert Walford.

The seven-year-old had been second on his three other starts this term when in the care of Colin Tizzard but here he jumped to the front five out and had only to be kept up to his work by James Best to see off Vic De Touzaine.

Explaining the switch of yards, Walford said: “His owners Sara Biggins and Celia Djivanovic rang me and asked if I would take the horse, and I didn't need to be asked twice. That’s all there is to it, and it's worked out well for them.