held up in rear, headway after 4 out, outpaced next, 4th and no impression when jumped left 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, ridden next, weakened approaching last
behind, reminders approaching 4th, ridden and lost touch 4 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led to 4 out, soon lost place and behind, pulled up before next
held up behind, driven and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd after last, no impression with leading pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd when hit 4 out, 11/2 lengths down and driven when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, just held
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden last, kept on under pressure when hard pressed flat, just held on
If transferring his useful flat form to this sphere Howard Johnson's STORMY WEATHER should be taking this Introductory Hurdle contest ahead of last time out winner Knock Three Times and Edgar Byrne's Coeur Brule. A winner on debut in his native France the pick proved to have stamina when placing in a heavy ground valuable handicap at Haydock on his first start for these powerful connections last time. His flat form easily sets the standard and the sounder surface should also be no bother. Knock Three Times was moderate at best on the level but did step up on those efforts when scoring on his first start over timber. He's entitled to improve for that experience so should go close. Coeur Brule also showed very little on flat but did shape with some encouragement when second best on his National Hunt bow while Mehendi is another jumps debutant but will have to find a lot of improvement based on his flat form to beat the pick Stormy Weather.
Beat The Devil 33-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, tracked leader 7f out, led briefly over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 28l behind Manifest (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f mdn stks (4) gd in Aug (flat).
Coeur Brule (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, always held, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Alazan (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf.
Ernies Keep 100-1 (10-5) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 22l behind Knock Three Times (10-2) at Kelso 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Mehendi (IRE) 2-1fav (10-4) Soon tracking leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 13, 6l behind Rossini's Dancer (10-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f am hcp (6) sft (flat).
Midnight Bay 80-1 (10-9) Keen early, not fluent, always behind, tailed off 4th, 7th of 10, well behind Barizan (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
New Tricks 13-2 (10-12) Led, blundered 1st, headed between last 2, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 15, 14l behind Knock Three Times (10-2) at Kelso 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Stormy Weather (FR) 20-1 (9-7) Mid-division, smooth headway 5f out, led 2f out until ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) hvy in May (flat).
Knock Three Times (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Held up mid-division, headway on inside 3 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Kelso 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd beating Monsieur Jourdain (10-12) by 3l, 15 ran.
Kind Heart 9-4fav (8-11) Soon close up, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Kyle Of Bute (8-11) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo sll (6) gf (flat).
Molesden Glen (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) In touch, effort over 2f, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 8l behind Racketeer (9-3) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec (flat).
