Outlook bright for Cloudy Times

Top tips for the new season, by Keith McHugh

The latest generation of horses to catch my eye in recent weeks includes these names to watch:

ATOUCHBETWEENACARA (trained by Venetia Williams): This headstrong sort has shown a good deal of promise without getting his head in front on his last few starts, but Saturday’s second to Malko De Beaumont at Haydock strongly suggests his turn is close at hand.

Indeed, he might well have won the Tommy Whittle Chase had he not ploughed through the final ditch when travelling well.

Despite racing keenly, Atouch-betweenacara stayed the three miles well on his first start at the trip and can land a nice prize this season.

BOLD RANSOM (Keith Reveley): Jumped really well to be third to the highly-rated Skippers Brig on his chasing debut at Carlisle.

The six-year-old will strip much fitter for the run and normal progression should see him collect a similar prize with the minimum of fuss.

CLOUDY TIMES (Sue Smith): This nice five-year-old grey won a decent bumper at Aintree in October, but jumping was always going to be his game and he made a most promising start over hurdles at Haydock.

The track’s brush hurdles take a bit of jumping, but Cloudy Times was fluent for most of the time and seemed to be going best of all entering the home straight.

He kicked on three hurdles out, but the testing ground caught him out and he was passed on the run-in by the stamina-packed Ernst Blofeld. Cloudy Times is sure to go one better in due course.

DEE EE WILLIAMS (Nick Gifford): The pride and joy of his trainer, Dee Ee Williams went down with all guns blazing when a short-head second to Medermit in a top-class novice hurdle at Ascot.

Racing a touch too keenly for his own good throughout the first mile and taking a wider route than the winner, it was surprising, then, that Dee Ee Williams was able to produce a sustained challenge from the last hurdle.

His main target is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and, as that contest should be run at a fierce pace, he will be able to settle better and deliver the performance Gifford anticipates.

GUNADOIR (Martin Todhunter): This six-year-old mare ran a solid race to be second on her chasing debut at Carlisle, staying on in willing fashion to be only two and a quarter lengths behind Norminster at the finish.

While she is no star, there are small races to be won with Gunadoir, perhaps over a little further than the two miles she raced over here.