Timeform Notebook: Money won't be too tight to mention

Simply Ned can land the spoils on his next start.

Timeform highlight a trio of horses to have taken the eye in the last week, and will hopefully prove capable of hitting the mark in the near future...

It's fair to say that the Jeremy Gask yard has not been in the best of form recently, sending out 15 runners in September for no return and firing the same number of arrows to date this month to gain just one success. That winner was Magic Secret, one of Richard Hughes' seven-timer at Windsor last Monday, and boy did he do it in fine style as he beat Jocasta Dawn by five lengths. The four-year-old got off the mark at the first time of asking in a poor maiden on his only start at Redcar last year, winning easily, and he went on to run well enough on his first two starts of 2012. His seventh at Ascot is worth forgiving, finding himself not ideally placed, and the unique Goodwood track was reportedly to blame for a poor run there on his penultimate start, but the overriding impression from his performances was that he had the scope to improve markedly. Magic Secret did just that at Windsor, travelling strongly and readily sprinting clear to be eased close home, suggesting that he could well progress through the handicap ranks. He holds entries in what, at present, looks a competitive handicap at Doncaster on Friday and a conditions event, in which the likes of Skilful and Captain Ramius are also entered. Let's be selfish and hope he lines up in the handicap.

It is to Wetherby's Wednesday meeting that we must turn for our two remaining eyecatchers, kicking off with the Nicky Richards-trained Simply Ned. The five-year-old was successful on three of his four starts last year, progressing on each occasion and suggesting there was more yet to come with the manner of his final win, but he cannot have been 100% on the day when he finished fourth of six on his final start of last season. The 15:25 at Wetherby had threatened to be a strong handicap but, in the event, it possibly was not quite as satisfactory as it had suggested. Nevertheless there is likely to be a number of subsequent winners emerge from the field and heading that list would be Simply Ned, who travelled smoothly to challenge at the second last before his effort flattened out, eventually shaping as if just in need of the run. He remains unexposed as a hurdler and is sure to make plenty of appeal from a similar mark on his next start, which could come at Aintree on Saturday as he holds an entry in the 13:50.

See What Happens, trained by Martin Todhunter, is our final selection following his second-placed effort on chase debut at Wetherby. The six-year-old was an Irish point winner in April 2011 and ran well on debut over hurdles last year, beaten just a length by Crafti Bookie, before getting off the mark under Rules at Carlisle on his next start. The race selected as the venue for his chasing debut is likely to prove above average, with the likes of African Broadway, Muldoon's Picnic and Imperial Circus all likely to improve in time, but it was the round of jumping put forward by See What Happens that warrants his inclusion in this piece, as cleared the obstacles with an abundance of accuracy having travelled with plenty of enthusiasm. He couldn't quite fight off African Broadway after the last, eventually being beaten three and a half lengths, but he seems certain to win races over three miles or further.

Runners Debrief

We have had five runners in the last seven days here on the Notebook, and it is probably best to get the disappointments out of the way first. The Mick Easterby-trained Barren Brook was below form for the third time in a row, not really helping himself by starting slowly once more, but the impression is that he is in a lull for now. There is no doubt that Secondo was a bit of a let-down at Windsor on Monday, but the ground was much softer than for his debut and he is certainly worthy of another chance.

Last week's selection Cross The Boss was very well-backed at Wolverhampton on Saturday night but contributed to his own downfall by refusing to settle, making little impression at the finish. Light From Mars was another to pull too hard, at Lingfield on Wednesday, and both are worth keeping on side in the hope that they prove more compliant on their next outings. Moorway ran in the first race at Pontefract today and, whilst he ran below form, it was on the softest ground he had encountered which could offer an excuse.

The coming week could prove to be a profitable one for Notebook followers, as there are a number of interesting entries. Heading the list would be Miss Dashwood, who became the first Notebook winner with victory at Wolverhampton on her last start, and holds a trio of entries back at that track. She appeals as the type to improve further, and can land whichever race she is targeted at.

English Summer came close to winning for us last time, denied by just half a length, and he looks sure to go well if taking up his engagement on Friday, whilst the recent downpours across the country, softening the ground, will favour Princess Caetani, who could also take to the track on Friday, this time at Newbury.

Glorious Protector, who made his debut in a strong maiden at Newmarket, is another that could be in action at Newbury on Friday, with him holding an entry in the maiden at 14:50. His Timeform master rating of 78 has a large 'P' attached, and he could well improve to get off the mark. Semeen, who probably failed to handle the Brighton track on his latest start, is entered at Doncaster on Friday and is worth another chance to show himself open to progression, whilst Marshgate Lane has a brace of races to aim for, at either Doncaster or Newbury on Saturday, with the first mentioned track arguably presenting the best opportunity for him to enter the winners' enclosure.

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