tracked leader until 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, well in touch 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression approaching last, kept on flat
led until not fluent 2 out, every chance flat, just held
mid-division, headway 4th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, hard pressed flat, headed post
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, in touch after 3 out, weakened after next
prominent, jumped right 4th, driven before 2 out, 4th last, held by leaders, kept on
mid-division on outside, lost place from 5th, well behind 3 out
mid-division on inside, hampered 4th, headway next, every chance when not fluent 2 out, beaten before last, no extra flat
held up in rear, not fluent and pushed along 5th, headway from 2 out, 4 lengths 3rd last, finished well to lead post
Oscarteea has been highly tried since landing a novice hurdle two years ago but was beaten in this grade at Wincanton in February and is 4lb higher. HERE'S HERBIE wouldn't want the ground to ease any further but completed a double at this level in the spring and Lucy Gardner's claim is a bonus so he gets the nod. The Gipper is a mudlark as he showed when landing two novice hurdles on heavy going earlier this year but he took a bad fall at Chepstow a couple of weeks ago. Winning bumper Stamp Your Feet makes his handicap debut from a lowly mark and should be capable of better, a remark that also applies to Matchaway, who looked promising last season and will have needed his comeback run last month. Centurius won a maiden at Huntingdon in March but hasn't been seen since a moderate handicap debut at Warwick in May.
Here's Herbie 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, disputing 2nd flat, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Castlemorris King (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Oscarteea (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Jumped left at times, led until before 6th, led again 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, switched right before last, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Tagrita (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
The Gipper (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, close up in 4th when fell 4 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
St Saviour 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 3 out, weakened before next, last of 8, dist behind Remiluc (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Volt Face (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, effort when mistake 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Blue Buttons (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Matchaway (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, struggling before 7th, well behind when pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
The Mad Well (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) In rear, pushed along before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Centurius 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 5th, one pace and no impression on winner before 2 out, 4th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Dispour (11-7) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Stamp Your Feet (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out until not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace and no impression on front pair before last, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Winterlude (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gd in Jul.
