JP McManus was right to raise the subject of transparency - and here's my solution to his worry about weights

Save for a jockey's facial features, the markings on an owner's silks and the grey of Grey Dawning, it's hard to hide anything on the sort of attritional ground we got at Haydock on Saturday.

You cannot easily pretend in the mud. Gold Tweet looked to be cantering entering the home straight in the Betfair Chase, yet when the going got tough – and, goodness, it was tough – it became apparent Gabin Meunier was holding on to nothing. Harry Skelton was holding on to more but a mistake at the final fence emptied the tank of Britain's only credible Gold Cup hope. To have a chance of winning, Grey Dawning had to give his absolute all. What he had was not enough.

It was, however, impossible to begrudge Royale Pagaille his latest moment in the metaphorical sun. He is one of those rare brave animals who adores Haydock in horrible conditions. Having made almost all the running, he lost the lead to Grey Dawning with little more than a furlong to run but summoned up the courage to wrestle it back. Moreover, he did that on his first start since fracturing a shoulder at Cheltenham in January. In all regards, it was a herculean effort.