led, headed when slipped up before 3rd
prominent until 2nd, tracked leaders, hampered before 3rd, went 2nd 5th, not fluent 9th, lost 2nd 11th, outpaced 15th, weakened 3 out
held up behind leaders, hampered before 3rd, closed going well 13th, led 3 out, clear from next, eased towards finish
jumped right, prominent, led before 3rd, not fluent and headed 12th, mistake next, led again after 14th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner from next
held up behind leaders, not fluent 1st, left 2nd before 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, 2nd again 11th, led next, headed after 14th, not fluent 3 out, well beaten 3rd next, hit last
There may only be five runners in this but it looks quite open. Rouge Devils will probably be favourite but all of his hurdles wins came on fast ground and over shorter trips. Hedley Lamarr seems to take one step forward and two steps back and a similar accusation could probably be leveled at Herbert Park. Doitforjoe may have needed his run at Warwick but also finished tailed off on his final start last year. OZZY THOMAS steps into the unknown over this trip but has been going well over timber lately and this is one of the easiest tracks in the country – he gets a tentative vote.
Rouge Devils (IRE) 10-1 (12-4) Led, strongly challenged 3 out, headed next, rallied and every chance after last, no extra close home, 2nd of 3, 1l behind Captain Buck's (11-6) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Apr.
Herbert Park (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) In rear and in touch, weakened from 3 out, last of 4, 24 1/4l behind Big Casino (11-0) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ozzy Thomas (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, disputing 3rd when mistake 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Diamond Fort (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Hedley Lamarr (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Tended to jump right, tracked winner, went right and hit 6th, pushed along and lost 2nd on long run before 4 out, chased leaders, 3rd and held when hung right and went right 2 out and last, 3rd of 5, 11 3/4l behind According To Harry (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Doitforjoe (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up, headway chasing leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 33l behind The Tourard Man (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
