held up in touch, mistake 8th, headway 4 out, every chance after 3 out, led just after next, hard ridden, kept on well
led until after 2nd, soon tracking leaders, not fluent 3rd and 4th, led again 3 out, headed approaching next, soon weakened
took keen hold chasing leaders, not fluent 5th, mistake next, led approaching when mistake and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear but in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened quickly after next
led after 2nd, headed before when jumped slowly 4 out, soon under pressure and weakened, pulled up next
prominent, joined leader halfway, led approaching 4 out, headed when blundered next, weakened 2 out
HERBERT PARK, penalised for his victory at Exeter in January, made a bold bid to concede a stone to the more experienced Mister Grez on heavy ground at Taunton and though unable to get past the winner he had the remainder a long way behind. He steps up markedly in trip here but should return to winning ways. Velvet Cognac had shown a bit of promise before well beaten on his handicap debut at Doncaster where he carried a big weight but it's Amidon who looks the main threat. Lucy Wadham's charge made good progress in maiden company and has by no means been disgraced in two much better events at Sandown including when staying on over 2m4f in a Grade 3 handicap last time. Winning point-to-pointer Red Tortue landed a novice hurdle at Hexham in November but couldn't handle the step-up to Grade 2 company at Warwick in January so this should be more to his liking.
Herbert Park (IRE) 8-11fav (11-10) Pressed winner, shaken up and hanging right before 2 out, driven approaching last, switched right flat, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Mister Grez (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Red Tortue (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, prominent until 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Three Musketeers (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Amidon (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Started slowly, towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, stayed on well run-in, never nearer, 6th of 17, 13l behind As De Mee (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs.
Mighty Thor 100-1 (11-2) Last pair, modest 5th and losing touch when mistake 4th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Boru's Brook (11-8) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Soupcon D'albain (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Led until after 4th, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Monbeg Theatre (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Velvet Cognac 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to take modest 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 9, 38l behind Spookydooky (11-5) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Clancy's Cross (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Pressed winner, under pressure when not fluent 3 out, soon lost place, weakening when lost moderate 3rd next, 5th of 9, 31l behind Southfield Vic (10-12) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
