in rear, not fluent 3rd, brief headway 7th, not fluent and dropped to rear next, jumped slow 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 2 out
midfield, not fluent 6th, went third next, went second when bad mistake 12th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden to challenge last, no extra flat
jumped well, made all, pushed along before 2 out, ridden last, kept on well flat
chased leader, not fluent 11th, lost second before next, blundered 4 out, hit next, soon outpaced, ridden before 2 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out
towards rear, headway into midfield 9th, pushed along 12th, made no impression from 4 out
midfield, hit 9th, pushed along before 11th, struggling before next, never dangerous
Another tricky puzzle to solve but Templehills is a previous course winner, though out of sorts at present. Pink Eyed Pedro is usually thereabouts but is probably still a few pounds too high. VISION DES FLOS was five lengths behind the latter on similar terms at Worcester but left that run behind when jumping well and beating Zoffee a couple of lengths at Uttoxeter. He can confirm that form and score again now he’s got his head back in front. Vinnie The Hoddie is starting to look well treated but Lock's Corner is hard to catch right.
Lock's Corner (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Raced wide chasing leaders until lost place and behind 4th, struggling before 10th, never on terms after, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Cracking Destiny (10-11) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Pink Eyed Pedro 10-3 (12-2) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, went 2nd 9th, challenged going well last, ridden and beaten before final bend, well held final 150 yards, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Roi De Dubai (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Made all, joined after 3 out, holding 2nd flat, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Zoffee (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Zoffee 15-8 (11-12) Chased winner, not fluent 5th or 6th, challenged after 3 out, driven approaching last, held flat, 2nd of 3, 2 1/4l behind Vision Des Flos (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Vinnie The Hoddie (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led 1st until 2nd, chased leaders, close up 4 out, carried right 3 out, well held in 3rd when awkward 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11 1/2l behind Neville's Cross (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Templehills (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 9, 35 3/4l behind Jac Brown (11-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
