tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last, weakened flat
hit 1st, held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, no chance when not fluent next
jumped right, tracked leader, not fluent 4th, ridden and outpaced 2 out, lost 2nd when not fluent last, no extra flat
made all, ridden and 5 lengths clear last, tired towards finish, just held on
A poor turnout for this contest and the recent Bangor winner Temple Place is nominated to land back-to-back victories. A high class flat performer on his day, defying an 11lb rise for that Bangor victory will be no easy task for Donald McCain's charge but his capable 5lb claimer aids his cause and his class should see him through. Pepporoni Pete makes his second outing for the Milton Harris yard having been claimed from Paul Nicholls' after his Ludlow victory on his penultimate start. He has class but has not progressed as one would have anticipated. Although sent off a 25-1 shot last time out, it was a laboured effort and he has it all to prove now. Spud never looked like winning last time out but stayed on well despite some inadequate jumping while Barney has failed to take advantage of a discrepancy between his chasing and hurdles mark of late. Temple Place is a class act on his day and he can land this.
Temple Place (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May beating Ta Peshala (10-8) by 2l, 14 ran.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Not fluent, mid-division, behind from 5th, no chance when fell 2 out in race won by Woolcombe Folly (11-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 14 ran.
Minnesota Leader (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, smooth headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, in 2nd when hit last, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 7l behind Motive (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Spud 7-2 (10-3) Held up, not fluent 4th, headway next, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Marodima (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Barney (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Jumped right, led, ridden approaching last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Very Cool (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.