mostly jumped well, tracked leading pair, led 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, clear well before last, eased near finish
wanted to go left, tracked leader, led before 4th, not fluent 5th, narrowly headed 6th, cheased leader, chased winner after 4 out, until ridden and weakened 3 out, beaten when blundered next
led until narrowly headed before 4th, led again 6th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, outpaced before next, rallied to modest 3rd approaching last
tracked leading pair, not much room on inside, hampered and lost place bend after 4 out, rallied to 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
held up last, not fluent 5th, outpaced 7th, headway to 2nd before 3 out, weakened next, no chance when went left and blundered last
A high-class race in prospect and one where RIVERSIDE THEATRE is the preferred one of three Nicky Henderson-trained original entries and we will take the hint, while El Dancer, I Have Dreamed and My Moment are all claimants. The last-named defeated the useful Copper Bleu at Warwick earlier in the month and is going the right way over fences. Soft ground and this trip look ideal for him and he is much respected. I Have Dreamed won on his Huntingdon debut over the bigger obstacles and has since gone well twice when runner-up both here and at Fakenham. He goes on any ground and should be in the shake-up. El Dancer went well in the Greatwood Hurdle last month before making a chase debut full of promise at Plumpton. With improvement looking very much on the cards, he could emerge as a big threat. There would have to be concerns over Rory Boy's ability to produce his best on this going, while Noble Request looks to have too much to do and would also prefer it a bit quicker. That takes us back to the selection. Riverside Theatre was good enough to finish within seven lengths of Hurricane Fly at Punchestown in the spring, and although he did chase home El Dancer over hurdles, he was very impressive when tried over fences at Newbury last month, beating Calusa Crystal by 28 lengths. He acts with cut and has plenty of speed, and he is the one for us.
Riverside Theatre 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, hit 9th, led 4 out, driven and in command approaching 2 out, very easily, won at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Nov beating Calusa Crystal (10-4) by 28l, 6 ran.
My Moment (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) With leaders, led approaching 3rd, joined 2 out, driven out, won at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) sft beating Copper Bleu (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Rory Boy (USA) 15-8 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, hit next, one pace, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Gansey (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy.
El Dancer (GER) 7-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch early, progressed to track leading pair from 5th, effort and close up on inside when jumped right and bumped rival 2 out, chased winner after, no impression last, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind King Edmund (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
Noble Request (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching and not fluent last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind I'm Delilah (10-6) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (3) gd.
I Have Dreamed (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, chased winner next, ridden and kept on flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Working Title (11-0) at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
