held up towards rear, slightly hampered 5 out, headway next, ridden and no impression after 3 out
held up in rear, badly hampered 5 out, soon pulled up
held up in mid-division, closed 3rd, not fluent 9th, driven and lost place 16th, soon behind
held up in touch in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 14th, 2nd 17th, driven in 3rd and edged left after 2 out, closed last, stayed on well to challenge flat, led post
tracked leaders, lost place 17th, soon behind
led, headed before 2 out, led again flat, headed post
held up in rear, bumped 2nd, hampered 15th, badly hampered 5 out, soon pulled up
held up in touch, not fluent 15th, ridden and no impression after 3 out, well held when not fluent 2 out, kept on towards finish
tracked leader until not fluent 12th, 4th and one pace 2 out, no extra
mistakes towards rear, headway on inside after 16th, 6th when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, 2nd 12th until hit 17th, hit 4 out, led before 2 out, over 3 lengths clear before last, headed flat, no extra close home
mid-division, fell 15th
This looks a strong renewal but Southfield Theatre has to go on the short-list as he would surely have won a Listed handicap at Wincanton last month had he not come down. Theatre Guide fared better than Regal Encore in the Hennessy but Colin Tizzard also runs the lightly-weighted Bally Longford, though he takes a massive step up in trip. Sausalito Sunrise and Ballynagour have a touch of class and Perfect Candidate is a standing dish here and will strip fitter for a comeback run. But Cogry’s confidence must be at rock-bottom and neither Un Ace nor Out Sam have excelled around here in the past. With Shutthefrontdoor still out of sorts, this looks a good opportunity for A GOOD SKIN as he was rallying strongly over 3m at Ascot last time and deserves a change of luck.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In touch, pressed leader 17th, led 4 out to next, weakened before last, 11th of 17, dist behind Viconte Du Noyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Ballynagour (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind, struggling 6 out, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Led until approaching 4th (water), chased winner until before next, chased leaders, 3rd again 4 out, ridden and went 2nd again 3 out, led 2 out, narrow lead when fell last, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 14th, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 19, 16 3/4l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Shutthefrontdoor (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Mid-division, jumped left 1st, lost place before 8th, soon behind, 8th of 9, dist behind Caid Du Berlais (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, slow 6th, struggling next, never a factor, 11th of 13, dist behind Valadom (10-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Regal Encore (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, towards rear 9th, tailing off when pulled up before 16th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Un Ace (FR) 28-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 15th, reminders after 18th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 17, 26 1/4l behind Viconte Du Noyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
A Good Skin (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 13th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on well closing stages, 6th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Antony (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Out Sam 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, on outer, dropped towards rear 4th, headway on outside 4 out, never on terms, weakened before last, 8th of 13, 30l behind Anteros (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Bally Longford (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway after 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, ridden and one pace after last, lost 2nd flat, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Un Beau Roman (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Cogry 12-1 (10-1) Mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
