tracked leader, led 11th, ridden 2 out, driven and held on gamely towards finish
raced widest, chased leaders, 3rd before 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
chased leaders, dropped to rear and mistake 9th, tailed off
led until headed and dropped to 3rd 11th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 11th, challenged 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on to close on tiring/idling winner towards finish, always held
Huff And Puff has been off the track for more than a year but won in this grade at Taunton when last seen and it would be no surprise if he proved a better bet than stablemate Vivaccio. Gun Shy is 11lb lower than for his only win over fences and makes more appeal than the luckless Pembroke House but CLOUDY BOB can be forgiven his blip on bottomless ground at Exeter and looks the one to beat as he is normally at his best on sharpish right-handed tracks like this.
Huff And Puff 9-1 (10-6) Not fluent 1st, 2nd from next, not fluent 3rd, about 3/4 length down when left in lead last, hard, pressed, held on, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Fort Worth (11-1) by hd, 6 ran.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair after 4 out, well held in 3rd from next, refused last, at Exeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Vivaccio (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, pecked slightly 1st, not fluent 3rdm headway 10th, 3rd before 2 out, no impression, one pace, 3rd of 8, 18 1/2l behind Kincora Fort (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Gun Shy (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Led until 3 out (normal 5 out), weakened flat, 5th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Wizards Bridge (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Pembroke House 7-1 (10-1) Prominent, every chance 4 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Applaus (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
