held up in rear, not fluent 6th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, closed 3rd, challenged 5th, soon led, not fluent 8th, headed approaching 2 out, led again soon after last, headed flat, stayed on, held towards finish
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance from 2 out until before last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd when not fluent 3 out, led when mistake 2 out, headed after last, stayed on, held towards finish
tracked leaders, not much room and lost place after 3 out, rallied before last, edged left flat, went 2nd towards finish, kept on
mid-division, headway after 3 out, 6th last, stayed on, not able to get on terms
mid-division, headway on outside 7th, challenged 2 out, led flat, driven out
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, stayed on flat but no impression
tracked leader until before 5th, not fluent next, in touch until lost place after 2 out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, stayed on flat, not able to get on terms
led, not fluent 4th, headed after 5th, lost place approaching 2 out
Philip Hobbs usually has a fancied runner in this and Return Spring will be popular having short-headed Salubrious over 3m2f here on his reappearance. But SOUTHFIELD THEATRE was only a nose away in third and there's every chance that Paul Nicholls' five-year-old could reverse the form over the shorter trip. He gets the vote as stable companion Edgardo Sol has plenty to prove over 3m and this will be a first try over the trip for Thomas Crapper, who only beat Angles Hill by three-quarters-of-a-length over 2m5f here last time and is slightly worse off at the weights. Sunnyhillboy has tumbled down the weights but has yet to show much improvement for it and Mister Dillon also has questions to answer on his return. Newbury third Red Not Blue looks held by a few of these on earlier form.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 22-1 (11-7) Mid-division, slow 3rd, headway halfway, outpaced 3 out, stayed on after last, never on terms, 6th of 12, 9l behind More Of That (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 5-1fav (11-3) Mid-division on outside, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, 3rd of 17, hd behind Return Spring (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Thomas Crapper 16-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 4th, joined leaders 4 out, went 2nd after next, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, edged left towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Nov beating Angles Hill (10-9) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
So Fine (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Tracked leader, lost place before 3 out, 7th of 8, 47l behind Arctic Court (10-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Return Spring (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, disputed 3rd and still plenty to do when bumped last, switched left and ran on well final 100 yards, led post, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov beating Salubrious (11-7) by shd, 17 ran.
Mister Dillon 4-1fav (11-9) Close up, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 15, well behind On The Bridge (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders, 10th of 17, 19l behind Return Spring (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) In rear, outpaced 4 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 21, 10l behind Mickie (11-3) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
Destroyer Deployed 8-1 (11-3) Towards rear, ridden 5th, never dangerous, 11th of 22, 34l behind Trackmate (11-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Angles Hill (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair after 2 out, went 2nd last, ridden and kept flat, held near finish, 2nd of 20, 3/4l behind Thomas Crapper (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Abruzzi 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, under pressure 5 out, styed on well, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Cyrien Star (10-2) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
