led, blundered 4 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd place towards finish
held up in touch and keen, weakened from 3 out
tracked leader and keen, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, soon switched left, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 2 out, ridden and pressed before last, kept on well towards finish
in rear and in touch, ridden and headway after 3 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish
A runner-up at Worcester last time, Cloudy Joker is capable of winning at this level, but is less than straightforward and pulled himself up at Market Rasen earlier. JETHRO finished a well beaten second in that contest at Market Rasen on his hurdling debut and Brian Ellison's charge gets a tentative vote to go close with improvement expected. Good Vibration has won a point-to-point and Political Quiz ran well in a bumper back in April while Rushvale's saddle slipped at Worcester on his return to action and he may get involved with normal luck in-running.
Cloudy Joker (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed last, no impression on winner and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Flying Angel (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Good Vibration (FR) 5-2 (11-9) Rcd 2nd, ld aftr 2out, adv last & ko best, won at Kirkistown 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Rolling Dylan (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Jethro (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Left close 2nd from 1st, no impression on winner when not fluent 2 out, well held last, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Closest Friend (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Marquis Of Carabas (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, no chance with front pair final furlong, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Last Summer (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gd in May.
Political Quiz 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, chased leaders 3f out, ridden and edged left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind For Instance (11-2) at Warwick 2m (6) gd in Apr.
Rushvale (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, saddle soon slipped, pulled up before 4th, at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Marley Joe (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Towards rear, well beaten 6th 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 10, dist behind Altior (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct.