mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on well from last, nearest finish
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden and lost touch 4th, soon behind
held up in touch, lost place 3rd, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led on bit after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed last, drifted left and not quicken flat
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, one pace
in touch, ridden 4th, soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 4th, weakened 2 out
in touch, headway after 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, led after last, stayed on well flat
mid-division, headway after 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 5th, pulled up before last
An open affair can go to Templer ahead of the likes of Polished, Magical Legend, Figaro Du Rocher and Purple Patch to name but a few. With just 10st 10lb and Richard Johnson on his back, hopes are high that Templer can go one better here after finishing runner-up on each of his last two starts, at Exeter and Taunton. That last effort came after a six-month break, so although the ground is a bit softer than ideal for Philip Hobbs's charge, he is taken to make a successful handicap bow. Polished is pretty versatile, mixing chasing with hurdling with equal aplomb, but he may well need this first outing since May, while Magical Legend gave lumps of weight away to the favourite Bonchester Bridge at Folkestone and will have here supporters, but she is another that would prefer faster going. She should at least hold Purple Patch on that form though, and is a leading contender for the frame. Figaro Du Rocher did not have to work too hard to land an amateur riders' event at Taunton but has more to do here, and in what could turn into a closely-run contest, we return to Templer as the pick.
Warningcamp (GER) 10-3 (11-7) Chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, challenging and ever chance when blundered and fell 2 out in race won by Midas Way (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Made all, ridden and quickened approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Coppermalt (9-10) by 2l, 10 ran.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent until weakened 4 out, 9th of 13, 44l behind Berengario (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Mister Mustard (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up, weakened 6th, 7th of 9, well behind Red Moor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in May.
Magical Legend 4-1 (11-4) In touch, headway to lead 2 out, headed well last, outpaced, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Bonchester Bridge (10-8) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (3) gs.
Arry Dash 14-1 (11-11) In touch, driven and weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Wellbeing (11-2) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gf in Mar, 14 ran.
Critical Stage (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, blundered 2nd, not fluent 3rd, soon pulled up pulled up at the 4th in race won by Pearl King (10-7) at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gs, 5 ran.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders when mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 15, 12l behind Dhehdaah (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Polished 7-4fav (11-12) Chased leader to 3rd, hit 6th, mistake 8th, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Tagar (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in May.
Purple Patch 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Bonchester Bridge (10-8) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (3) gs.
Templer (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Chased winner, not fluent 4th, ridden 3 out, held in 2nd when hit 2 out, 2nd of 7, 4l behind The Grey Man (10-11) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Equilibria (USA) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-division, hit 5th, soon ridden, not much room and lost place after 6th, kept on run-in, 5th of 11, 9l behind Blushing Prince (10-6) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Humid Climate 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 6th, tailed off, 8th of 11, 44l behind Broke Road (11-6) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Mar.
