chased leaders, effort 2 out, soon one pace
chased leaders, went 2nd halfway, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra closing stages
tracked leader, reminders halfway, soon lost place, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, always travelling well, led before and mistake last, ran on
led, mistake 3 out, headed before next, soon rallied and every chance, weakened last
Nonrunner
A competitive little handicap, though it’s hard to have much faith in The Herds Garden at present. Lord Landen appears to be feeling his age while Blandfords Gunner’s recent second came in a three-runner race. Little Jimmy is a course and distance winner on a decent mark but he prefers some give in the ground. ALTIEPIX broke a blood vessel when pulled up here last month and deserves another chance to build on the promise of his first two runs for Kerry Lee. Storming Strumpet appeared to run well from out of the handicap at Cheltenham on Thursday but had been beaten off lower marks than this previously and is now 0-8 over the larger obstacles.
The Herds Garden 14-1 (11-8) In touch in last pair, blundered 8th, soon ridden and beaten, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Altiepix (FR) 15-8fav (11-10) Led 2nd, soon clear, reduced lead 8th, quickly pulled up before next, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Blandfords Gunner 13-8 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, rider lost iron briefly 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, switched right and went 2nd before the last where mistake, driven and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Bredon Hill Lad (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Storming Strumpet 10-1 (10-0) Mainly held up in touch, losing a bit of ground on rivals 12th, ridden to close after 3 out, 3rd before last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 9 1/4l behind Plaisir D'amour (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Lord Landen (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Led after 1st, not fluent 7th, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra in 3rd before the last, 3rd of 8, 33 1/4l behind Modeligo (11-10) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Little Jimmy 10-1 (10-12) Soon chased leaders on outer, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 28l behind Agincourt Reef (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Mar.