prominent, reminders approaching 7th, lost place next, plugged on to take moderate 3rd before last
led until jumped big, awkward and slip on landing 1st, soon dropped to last, hesitant at several jumps after and always behind
prominent, hampered 1st, ridden after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
left in lead 1st, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 8th, 2nd 4 out, led after 3 out, went left and not fluent 2 out, driven out
always in touch, mistake 7th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression flat
held up towards rear, headway after 3rd, reminders 7th, weakened after 4 out
prominent, mistakes, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, in touch 9th, weakened 3 out
MARK THE BOOK can land this beginners' chase at the main expense of Sandhurst and Mister Potter. The selection arrives here on the back of a good effort last time out when he got the better of Le Briar Soul. The front two came well clear of the rest of the field that day so the form looks solid enough and with ground conditions to suit as well he can go in again. Sandhurst has got some solid form in Ireland and he ran in the Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham festival last year. He was well beaten in that race but he clearly has ability and he is one to note in the market. Mister Potter is a nice type and after a bad fall a couple of runs ago he ran a sound enough race last time out. He has the scope for further progress so he certainly has to be of interest today. Sir Peter fell last time out and he was last on his previous run, but he was returning from a break that day so he was probably in need of the run. Mark The Book looks a sound bet and he is taken to score.
Badger 9-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, ridden after 10th, stayed on from 3 out, went modest 4th approaching last, 4th of 14, 29l behind Man of The Moment (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Durante (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Always in rear and pulled up at the last in race won by Radmores Revenge (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy, 13 ran.
Irish Power (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, hit 3rd and 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Giles Cross (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Mark The Book (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Led, jumped slowly 3rd, hard ridden when headed last, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec '07.
Mister Potter 7-1 (11-0) Prominent to 1st, held up, mistake 11th, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 8, 28l behind Dream Garden (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Sandhurst (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th 5 out, weakened from next, 13th of 16, 30l behind Asian Royale (10-10) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp hdl 0-123 gs in Apr.
Sir Peter (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) fell in race won by Woodlands Genpower (10-11) at Towcester 3m beg chs (4) sft, 7 ran.
Stockton Flyer 40-1 (10-11) Behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Woodlands Genpower (10-11) at Towcester 3m beg chs (4) sft, 7 ran.
Wheres Johnny 8-1 (11-1) Pecked 1st, always in rear, 7th of 10, 40l behind Rustarix (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
