slow jump 1st, tracked leading pair to 4th, rear after but well in touch, headway into 3rd to 14th (5 out), no impression 3 out, stayed on into modest 2nd near finish
not fluent 1st and 2nd, held up early, tracked leading pair from 4th, went 2nd 13th, challenged and blundered 3 out, narrow lead 2 out, driven and stayed on to draw clear flat
led, pushed along approaching 4 out, kept narrow advantage until headed 2 out, still well there approaching last, tired jump, weakened flat, lost 2nd near finish
chased leader until mistake 13th, dropped to rear next (5 out), soon ridden and outpaced
Mark The Book has more experience over fences than his three rivals but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has struggled since being put over the larger obstacles and a better bet looks to be FLIGHT LEADER, who gets the vote ahead of Forest Pennant. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding showed improved form over hurdles last term and was narrowly beaten in a decent handicap at Chepstow on his reappearance last month. Beaten there off a mark of 140, he has to be respected on his chasing debut. Alan King's Starburst Diamond has shown a similar level of ability over hurdles and is bred to do well over fences so he cannot be discounted but preference is for Flight Leader. Easily the pick of these over timber, Colin Tizzard's gelding was beaten at short odds on his chasing debut at Kelso when last seen in May but the yard's runners are in good from now so lack of a recent run should not be a concern and he looks worth chancing with here.
Flight Leader (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered, lost place 4th, headway 14th to chase winner, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace under pressure, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Palmers Peak (10-12) at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs in May '08.
Forest Pennant (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 3 out, soon ridden, jinked and headed final 40 yards, no extra, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Hills Of Aran (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct '08.
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.
Starburst Diamond (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) In touch, reminders after 7th, driven next, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 30l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-4) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
