prominent, led 6th, narrowly headed 3 out, lost 2nd and weakened between last 2
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led 3 out, about 1 length ahead when blundered last, soon headed and no chance with winner
chased leaders, driven along from 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, led last, driven out
held up in rear until pulled up and dismounted before 5th
held up, jumped slow 6th, ridden and weakened after 4 out
in touch, slightly hampered 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
slightly hampered 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
led to 6th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, disputed close 2nd when fell 7th
Mark The Book gets the confident vote in the opener with Double Dizzy and Master Eddy rating the main dangers. The selection has looked impressive in all his runs so far, notably when beating Leading Authority last time out. This looks tougher again under his penalty but he has plenty of scope for improvement and will be hard to beat. Double Dizzy rates the main danger on his latest fifth behind Copsale Lad but that form has since been let down and he is taken on with this in mind. Master Eddy is another that could go well as he beat Minella Tipperary with a little in hand last time but he had looked exposed up to that point and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Of the remainder, Brilliant Cut has shown little to date but with his yard in top form he is worth a cautionary look in the market. However, for the winner we return to Mark The Book who sets a fair standard and is hard to oppose.
Mark The Book (IRE) 10-11fav (11-9) Tracked leaders and always going well, led 4 out, clear 3 out, easily, won at Chepstow 3m nov hdl (4) hvy beating Leading Authority (11-9) by 11l, 9 ran.
Double Dizzy 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 7th until after 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 5th of 16, 26l behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Master Eddy 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon in command, won at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft beating Minella Tipperary (11-13) by 16l, 6 ran.
Bennett (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 5 out, 8th of 12, well behind Snakebite (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Brilliant Cut 33-1 (11-0) Raced in mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 18, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Earnest (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Minella Tipperary (11-6) at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Ouragan De Prairie (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Led, headed after 3rd, remained in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 18, 26l behind Buster Hyvonen (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Tequinha 100-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 5th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ask The Gatherer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov '05, 18 ran.
Triple Seven (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Behind, kept on final 2f, never going pace to reach leaders, 9th of 22, 43l behind Crocodiles Rock (11-4) at Newbury 2m nhf (4) sft in Dec.
