led, mistakes and jumped right, headed 4 out, weakened after next
in touch and keen, weakened 5 out
held up, in touch, weakened 5 out
chased leader, weakened after 5 out, behined when blundered 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 8th, tailed off from 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden next, headed soon after last, no chance with winner
behind, headway 8th, went 2nd 2 out, led soon after last, ran on strongly
held up towards rear, ridden 7th, never dangerous
held up, went prominent approaching 9th, chased leader 3 out, until weakened next
held up, in touch, weakened 5 out
held up, mid-division, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, towards rear, weakened from 5 out
in touch, in 4th when blundered 5 out, never dangerous after
held up, in rear, blundered 6th, weakened from 8th
Little Josh and Secret Tune have already shown plenty of promise over hurdles whilst Ernst Blofeld was well backed and shaped well on debut but it may be worth taking them all on with CLOUDY TIMES. Trevor Hemmings enjoys having winners at this track and Sue Smith's charge has shown pretty smart form in his three starts in bumpers. He ran well in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree (the form of which is working out well) before landing his second success in that sphere on his reappearance in another fair contest. He's sure to have been well schooled and won't fail for lack of stamina. Little Josh found only the useful Pride Of Dulcote too strong at Chepstow before landing a penalty kick at Lingfield since when he's been purchased by powerful owners. That speaks volumes and he's the one to beat. Secret Tune was well held at Ascot but that may turn out to have been one of the hotter novice races to have been run so far this season and it would be folly to underestimate his chance. Ernst Blofeld ran well enough in his bumper and should win races whilst King Lok deserves a second look given his connections but Cloudy Times may well be a horse to follow and is preferred.
Little Josh (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Led to after 4th, chased leaders, led after 6th, well in command from next, heavily eased flat, won at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Carmond (10-12) by 35l, 8 ran.
Secret Tune 11-2 (11-5) Chased leader until ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 22l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-5) at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
American World (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Held up well in rear, took keen hold, never near to challenge, 8th of 18, 23l behind Frontier Dancer (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Calm Seas (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along from halfway, never dangerous, 7th of 11, well behind Border Reiver (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Cartoonist (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Behind, lost touch after 5th, tailed off when mistake 7th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Moves Goodenough (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hdl (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Cloudy Times (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leader, ridden over 1f out, soon led, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) sft in Oct beating Fabalu (11-0) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, every chance over 3f out until slightly outpaced over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Lie Forrit (11-2) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) hvy in Nov.
Heezbehindyou (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 12; went 2nd 3 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Beautiful Dawn (12-0) at Eyton-On-severn 3m ptp gd in May '07.
Istron Bay 66-1 (10-9) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Keepthedreamalive (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Key Cutter (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair until 6th, ridden after next, weakened before 3 out, hit last, 6th of 8, 40l behind Moves Goodenough (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hdl (3) gs in Nov.
King Lok (NZ) 7-1 (12-0) Led app 4 out; all out, won at Milborne St Andr 2m 4f ptp gf in Feb beating King Of The Road (12-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Shield of Zeus (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 48l behind Latanier (10-9) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) hvy.
Solid Silver 18-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 16, 24l behind Bolodenka (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Wingull (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on inside 5f out, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 14, 16l behind Sherwani Wolf (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft.
