always prominent, ridden in 3rd between last 2, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
mid-division at 6th, headway chasing leaders 12th, went 2nd 5 out, no chance with winner, lost that placing close home
held up and behind, fell 6th
held up in 6th, plugging on when stumbled badly 3 out, kept on in modest 4th
jumped poorly in rear, tailed off when blundered 10th, blundered and unseated rider 12th
behind, pulled up quickly before 4th
in touch, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders until lost place before 12th, never dangerous after, tailed off
chased leader, led 11th, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly
led until 11th, chased leader until 5 out, chased leaders, weakened next
towards rear, hit 11th, mistake next, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
Cloudy Joker hasn’t been running badly between the flags but has not been pulling up any trees. Risk A Fine jumped badly right-handed when an odds-on favourite at this meeting two years ago. He won at Stratford shortly after but hasn’t been seen since. Eric The Third rallied to win a minor contest in the west country last week but this looks a much tougher assignment with Barney Dwan, once held in high regard, making more appeal. Clondaw Westie produced a career best when fourth in the Aintree Foxhunters’ but that may have left its mark. Ludlow winner Zamparelli can’t be left out of calculations but PEACOCKS SECRET was an easy winner at Fakenham after a second to a useful type at Leicester and may be on an upward curve.
Clondaw Westie (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Jumped left and bumped 1st, mid-division, headway on inside 4th, pecked 5 out, 6th after 3 out, switched right and closed 2 out, went 4th last, held final 150 yards, kept on, 4th of 21, 5 3/4l behind Cousin Pascal (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) gs in Apr.
Peacocks Secret (IRE) 13-8 (11-12) Held up behind leader, joined leader 13th and soon led, ridden after 2 out, jumped last well and driven clear, won at Fakenham 3m (5) gd in Mar beating Right Of Reply (11-12) by 8 1/2l, 4 ran.
Zamparelli (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up and behind, headway from 11th, went 3rd 4 out, went 2nd next, led last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) gd in Mar beating Bletchley Castle (11-10) by 9l, 7 ran.
Barney Dwan (IRE) 6-4jfav (12-5) A.p; prsd wnr 11 til led 15; hdd 2 out; no ex, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Diplomate Sivola (12-0) at Barbury Racecourse 3m gs in Dec.
Beau De Tabel (FR) 150-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake 2nd, dropped back towards rear 6th, mistake 7th, lost touch after 8th, pulled up before 6 out, at Stratford 2m 7f (6) gd in Apr.
Billy Hicks 20-1 (12-0) (bl) ref to race, at Chaddesley Corbett 2m 4f gd in Apr.
Cloudy Joker (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) (tt) led til hdd 3 out; wknd bet last 2, 3rd of 6, 9l behind General Arrow (11-0) at Aldington 3m gd in Apr.
Eric The Third (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Led aft 1-12; outpcd 3 out; rallied to ld last; all out, won at Trebudannon 3m gd in Apr beating Awesome Tunes (12-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
Marcle Ridge (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Prominent, led 3rd, hit 4th, headed 10th, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 17, 35 3/4l behind Latenightpass (11-6) at Warwick 3m (6) sft in Feb.
Risk A Fine (IRE) 10-11fav (12-7) Made all, clear when went left 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May beating Road To Riches (11-12) by 17l, 5 ran.
Where Now (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Prom; led 12 til hdd & wknd qckly 3 out, 5th of 7, 29l behind Famous Clermont (12-0) at Cothelstone 2m 4f gd in Apr.