Hursley, trained by Chris Waller (pictured right), returned to form when finishing third under top weight at Moonee Valley today.

Ridden by Craig Williams, the four-year-old stepped up in trip to 2,040m for the Aus$80,000 handicap, and ran a fine race from the widest barrier, finishing nearly two and a half lengths behind the Darren Weir-trained winner Big Duke, to whom he was conceding 4kg, with the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained Cool Chap splitting the pair.

Running left-handed and on good ground also suited Hursley, whose previous run in late December had been over 1,500m.