led until mistake and unseated rider 5 out
tracked leader, disputed lead 5 out, ridden 3 out, held approaching last
tracked leading pair, left disputing lead 5 out, led next, clear last run on
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A good quality race for the time of year but most of the runners have question marks hanging over them; MARK THE BOOK is suggested. Pangbourne is a talented individual but a quirky one who can't be relied upon to run the same race twice. He ran a fine second on his penultimate start despite trying to refuse at his first two fences and Wayne Hutchinson will have earned his fee if persuading him to complete. Russian Around has looked a chaser to follow on a couple of occasions but he appeared to have lost his way prior to his defeat of the smart Lodge Lane at Lingfield. A similar level of form could make him hard to beat but that win didn't come without a few hairy moments and he has to prove that he can build on it. Quattrocento and Tastes Like More have a little to find on the book so we'll take a chance with Mark The Book. He missed 2008 but appears to have retained his ability judged by his latest performance; he wouldn't need to find too much improvement on that to take this contest and the better ground could bring it about so we'll give the nod to Mark The Book.
Pangbourne (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Led until 18th, weakened quickly approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Tricky Trickster (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m amat chs (2) gs in Mar, 19 ran.
Quattrocento (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, narrowly headed when blundered badly last, not recover and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Valley Ride (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov stks (3) gf in Mar.
Russian Around (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 7th, headway to track leader 4 out, not fluent and edged left and led last, ridden out, won at Lingfield 3m nov stks (3) gd in Mar beating Lodge Lane (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Mark The Book (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Theatre Dance (11-0) at Chepstow 3m beg chase (4) gs in Mar.
Tastes Like More (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, challenged when hit 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Le Beau Bai (11-5) at Carlisle 3m nov stks (3) hvy in Mar.
