slowly away, behind, effort on inside 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, going well enough 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, eased when no chance final furlong
tracked leader for 2f, settled close up, pushed along 3f out, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
led to 2f out, stayed close up until weakened final furlong
behind, switched left to wide outside well over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to press winner inside final furlong, not keen and just held
slowly into stride, soon in mid-division, pushed along 4f out, effort and driven 2f out, stayed on same pace
slowly into stride, pushed up to track leader after 2f, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened inside final 2f
in touch, pushed along 4f out, weakened 2f out
keen, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on near finish
always behind, ridden and struggling final 5f
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
In this two-mile handicap, we will side with Theatre, with others considered being Random Quest, Captain Miller, Decisive, Hathlen and Jonanaud. The selection ran a good race over two-and-a-half miles at York last time, only fading in the final two furlongs having had topweight to carry. A repeat of that type of run - given that the best of his form gives him some sort of claims at this level - affords him a chance today. A race that should be looked at also is the one at Kempton in which Hathlen, racing for only the second time for Gary Moore, finished second to Turnstile. As long as the blinkers that were tried there work again, he can go well, and if you take literal formlines using a horse called Screenplay, then Jonanaud and Captain Miller, particularly over the two-furlong longer trip today, can also be given a chances. Being lightly-raced, Decisive should also be considered as he has run well before from around today's mark, and Random Quest, who was competitive from this mark last summer, and the progressive Belle Rouge, should be respected too. A return to his best would also see Archduke Ferdinand in with a hope, while Sindapour, who is ten pounds above a winning mark, is lightly raced on the Flat and could have some improvement left in him. Overall, though, we are happy enough to side with Theatre.
Random Quest 25-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 26l behind Balkan Knight (9-12) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gs.
Belle Rouge 5-1 (9-6) Race dwide, joined main group 6f out, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on towards finish, never near to challenge, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Winged d'Argent (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (D2) sft in Oct.
Incursion 33-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, soon not much room, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 11l behind Into The Shadows (8-7) at Chester 1m 4f hcp (4) gs.
Theatre (USA) 25-1 (9-11) Mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 7th of 20, 15l behind Vicars Destiny (9-6) at York 2m 4f hcp (5) sft.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up behind, ridden 3f out, one-paced final 2f, 8th of 14, 12l behind Waverley Road (8-13) at Kempton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (D) gd in May '02.
Establishment 16-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, soon with leaders, led over 8f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 15l behind Efrhina (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol.
Archduke Ferdinand (FR) 12-1 (9-2) Held up, some headway over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 14, well behind Dancing Bay (9-6) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (C) gs in Jun.
Sindapour (IRE) 9-1 (8-3) Prominent 8f, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 22nd of 36, 26l behind Landing Light (9-4) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (B) gf in Oct '03.
Almizan (IRE) 15-2 (8-9) Held up in rear, headway 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Dovedon Hero (8-12) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gf.
Decisive 7-1 (8-11) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (C) gf in Aug '03 beating Opportune (7-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.