held up well in rear, blundered 10th, not fluent next, headway to rear of main group after 11th, stayed on from 3 out, went well held 3rd 2 out until towards finish
led until narrowly headed 7th, chased leader, led again 11th, mistake and headed next, chased leader until approaching 4 out, weakened and lost 3rd 2 out, rallied to modest 3rd again close home
chased leader, narrow lead 7th until mistake and headed 11th, led again next, headed 2 out, readily held and no chance with winner between last 2
chasing leading pair when fell 8th
tended to jump right, in last pair, screwed 9th, lost touch next, soon tailed off
held up in touch in 5th, left 4th at 8th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, came readily clear between last 2, easily
not fluent, hit 1st, chased leading trio, left 3rd at 8th, hit 13th, in 4th when hit 3 out and driven, weakened before next
RIVERSIDE THEATRE by-passed yesterday's Aon Chase to run here and the switch can pay dividends. Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old is probably better over this shorter trip, though kept on well enough to finish runner-up to stablemate Long Run over 3m in the King George at Kempton last month. Tartak has won twice in good company over similar distances after finishing third on his reappearance at Aintree and is a serious contender, while Pride Of Dulcote is out to prove his defeat of Punchestowns at Newbury was no fluke. The drop in trip is a worry here, however, while the concern surrounding Gauvain is about whether he'll appreciate the step up from 2m. Deep Purple unshipped Paul Moloney behind Tartak on his latest start but was beaten at the time and will struggle to regain the winning thread here, though still looks a better bet than either Big Fella Thanks or Racing Demon.
Big Fella Thanks 14-1 (10-0) Behind until fell 3rd, in a race won by Diamond Harry (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Deep Purple 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed next, outpaced 9th, lost touch after 12th, no chance when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Tartak (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
Gauvain (GER) 20-1 (11-7) Behind, hampered 2nd, weakened 7th, behind when mistake last, 5th of 9, 30l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Jan.
Pride of Dulcote (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Appeared to make all, in lead 13th, apparently joined 2 out, narrow lead as field came into view but pressed 150 yards out, stayed on gamely close home, won at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) gs in Dec beating Punchestowns (11-7) by hd, 4 ran.
Racing Demon (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden next, weakened before last, 7th of 19, 19l behind James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Riverside Theatre 10-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, mistake 13th, outpaced 5 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Long Run (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Jan.
Tartak (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 11th, ridden aproaching last, kept on to lead last 50 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan beating Carole's Legacy (11-0) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
