pressed winner, shaken up and hanging right before 2 out, driven approaching last, switched right flat, no impression final 100 yards
in touch in mid-division on outside, not fluent 4th, weakened before 6th, pulled up before last
made all, pressed when not fluent 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on well, in command final 100 yards
tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair from 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon went 3rd, no chance with leading pair
held up in rear, not always fluent, modest progress after 7th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold, mid-division, hit 5th, lost place from 6th, behind next, tailed off
tracked leaders, outpaced by leading pair from 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, ridden 6th, behind next, tailed off
held up, pushed along briefly after 4th, headway 7th, pressed for 3rd from after 3 out, no chance with leading pair
HERBERT PARK (NAP) looks a useful recruit to hurdling judged on the evidence of his narrow defeat of subsequent Exeter winner Qualando at the Devon track last month - the first two pulled well clear. Mister Grez has had a busy time of it over fences lately but could plug on for a place here with Bridget Andrews' claim in his favour. Fountains Blossom could also make the frame as she had decent form in bumpers and will have learned plenty from her fifth at Exeter, where her cause wasn't helped by the fact that she shed a couple of plates during the course of the race.
Herbert Park (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Always prominent, challenged 3rd, driven after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on well flat, led close home, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Qualando (10-7) by shd, 10 ran.
Cellist 80-1 (11-3) Mid-division, struggling 5th, well behind next, pulled up after, in a race won by Ugolin De Beaumont (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft, 9 ran.
Mister Grez (FR) 25-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression on winner from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Sire De Grugy (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft.
Ofcoursewecan (USA) 250-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along before 6th, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 37l behind Skylander (10-10) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Sonny The One 33-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 5th, outpaced before 2 out, soon well held by leaders, 5th of 13, 22l behind Earthmoves (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Fountains Blossom 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind Twentytwo's Taken (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) sft.
Nicki's Nipper 200-1 (10-11) In rear, pushed along and struggling before 5th, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Carningli (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Dunn's River (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 38l behind All Yours (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Mon Petit Ange (FR) 33-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 4th, tailed off, 10th of 11, 44l behind Like Sully (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Say My Name (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Led early, prominent, outpaced 5f out, plugged on again final 2f, 5th of 16, 12l behind The Eaglehaslanded (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
