Timeform Notebook: We're Fond of this one

It was understandably a relatively low-key weekend of racing with the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, but that doesn't mean that there weren't some interesting types in action, and one horse that shaped especially well with the future in mind was the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained novice hurdler Fond Memory.

Fond Memory, making his handicap debut on his return from an 11-week break, produced his best effort yet as he stayed on strongly to finish a close-up second at Newbury on Friday, doing well to split two in-form rivals. The six-year-old gelding shaped as if the extended two-mile trip was on the short side, looking as if he would benefit enormously for the step up to two and a half miles, and he is one to bear in mind next time given his lightly-raced profile and obvious scope for improvement.  

He had been unable to make an impact in novice hurdles on his prior starts, but he was set some stiff tasks in that company and looks to have started life in handicaps on a fair mark based on Friday's effort. Fond Memory could do with brushing up on his jumping, but that will hopefully improve with experience, and he is one to keep on the right side.

Timeform Notebook:

The progressive Clever Cookie confirmed that he is a horse going in the right direction with an emphatic success at Kelso on Saturday and remains one worth following. Clever Cookie's trainer, Peter Niven, is reluctant to head to the Cheltenham Festival, where he would hold solid claims in the County Hurdle, but he is very much one to look out for at Aintree, where the speed-favouring course will play to the strengths of this strong-travelling type.

Dungeness was beaten at Plumpton last week, but he shaped extremely well in second place, bouncing back to form following an unfortunate incident at Exeter where his rider's stirrup leather broke. The aggressively-ridden Dungeness rather set things up for the eventual winner, Hold The Bucks, at Plumpton, and he perhaps deserves extra credit for going so close. He remains on the list of horses to follow.

Shutthefrontdoor - Disappointed last time but earlier efforts suggest he can develop into a smart novice.
Merlin's Wish - Staying handicap chaser who remains capable of winning off current mark.
Close House - Has faced some stiff tasks over fences and could yet do better.  
Many Clouds - Likeable type that pressed on too soon at Ascot but will continue to give a good account.
Famousandfearless - Seemingly well regarded and type to improve for switch to handicaps.
Champagne At Tara - Shaped well on hurdling debut under considerate ride. Not knocked about last time.
Regal Encore - Looks set to enter handicaps on a lenient mark and is sure to progress.
Champagne West - Progressive novice that has rattled up a hat-trick in good style.
Pass Muster - Still potentially well treated over hurdles based on fairly useful Flat form. 
Dungeness - Shaped well under an aggressive ride at Plumpton and there could be better to come.
Benefit Cut - Possibly found run coming too soon at Leicester and worth another go.
Tap Night - Smart chaser who remains unexposed and is likely to have a Festival handicap as his main aim.
Clever Cookie - Improving rapidly and impressed with the way in which he travelled at Musselburgh and Kelso.
If In Doubt - Lightly raced and unexposed as a staying hurdler. Still improving and boasts solid form.
Chance Du Roy - Shaped well at Ascot and looks likely to give another good account at Aintree.
Holywell - Slowly getting the hang of things over fences and open to improvement in this sphere.
Fond Memory - Shaped well over an inadequate trip at Newbury and remains open to improvement.