This looked a straight match between trainers' championship rivals Nicholls and Pipe, each of whom were doubly represented, but as the betting suggested beforehand, it developed into a solo spin for exciting staying chaser COMMERCIAL FLYER, who was taking up this engagement over the Grade One Reynoldstown at the weekend. A prolific scorer last season when winning five handicaps in less than a month, and racing on three consecutive days, Commercial Flyer has the physique to make a really smart chaser.As with connections' Celtic Son when he won on his debut earlier in the season, he put in a spectacular round of jumping, producing the goods when Murphy asked for a big one, yet also coming up for him when in tight.

Blue Business had kept tabs on the favourite and looked set to give him a race turning in, but another stunning leap at the third-last quickly settled the issue and he just had to be kept up to his work from there on. A significant mover in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase market duringthe morning, the support does not seem misplaced and, although lacking the experience usually required to take that race, it would not surprise to see connections squeeze in another outing before the Festival and his ability to jump so accurately will obviously stand him in good stead. If there was a negative to take from the performance it was that he did not appear to like being in front for too long, flashing his tail and not looking too keen, but there are not many better jockeys around than Murphy for executing waiting tactics and he goes to Cheltenham as a major player. Blue Business has not looked the same since falling when still in with a chance against Church Island and Celtic Son at Cheltenham in November, throwing in a couple of moody displays, but this was an improved performance and he could not have been expected to do any better against the classy winner. There is still room for some improvement in his jumping, but this half-brother to See More Business is a strong stayer and reportedly has the four-mile National Hunt Chase as his target.

Useful hurdler Blushing Bull, the supposed Nicholls' first string judging by the betting, was let down by his jumping on this chasing debut, looking slow overthe first couple and jumping out to his left thereafter. He offered little on his reappearance over hurdles at Lingfield, and raced a little lazily here, but not many from his stable suffer jumping problems and it is reasonable to expect an improved showing next time. Of the others only Smart Savannah threatened to get involved, but in the end it all proved a little too hot for him.

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