prominent, lost place approaching 4th, mistake 6th, ridden and behind from 8th, went wrong and pulled up after 2 out
held up well in rear, not fluent and went left 2nd, went 5th approaching 10th, 4th before 13th, good headway 4 out, led next, jumped left last 2, drew clear, ran on well
held up, tracking leaders 2nd, outpaced from 13th
chased leaders, lost place 5th, behind 8th, pulled up before 11th
held up well in rear, headway 7th, hit 12th, mistake 4 out, chased winner after 3 out, went left last, no impression
took keen hold, hit 2nd, disputing lead 4th, weakened quickly when pecked 10th, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, led and tended to jump right from 7th, headed next, every chance 4 out, held approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 4th, ridden after 6th, behind from 8th, plugged on
led until 7th, led next, hit 13th and went left, headed 3 out, soon held, one pace
The former Venetia Williams-trained THEATRE DIVA kept on well to beat Fairwood Present by a length-and-a-half over C&D 11 days ago with Emotional Article a distant third and Little Rocker fourth. Almaydan was also pulled up in that race and, on similar terms, there seems no reason why any of those behind the winner should turn the tables today. Captain Marlon, third at Taunton last month, may be the pick of the remainder as Bougoure hasn't been pulling up any trees between the flags.
Emotional Article (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden 11th, 6th and struggling 13th, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Theatre Diva (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, soon went close 2nd, led 4 out, still hard pressed when not fluent last, driven out, in command towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd beating Fairwood Present (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Almaydan 15-8 (11-3) Led, jumped left and headed 6th, lost place 11th, blundered badly next, pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Theatre Diva (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd, 10 ran.
Bougoure (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd aft 3 out, 4th of 8, 44l behind Ballyeightra Cross (12-0) at Tabley 3m ptp gd.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 3 out, never on terms with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 18l behind King Cyrus (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd in Mar.
Commadore Barry (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 7th when mistake 5 out, progress into moderate 4th 3 out, no extra from next, 13th of 16, well behind Mister Bishop (11-1) at Tipperary 2m 4f beg chs gf in Jun.
Fairwood Present (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Prominent, took keen hold, led 6th, headed when hit 4 out, still every chance last, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Theatre Diva (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd.
Little Rocker (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) In rear, jumped left 7th, ridden after 9th, behind 13th, plugged on from 3 out, went 4th close home, 4th of 10, 26l behind Theatre Diva (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd.
Triple Bluff 100-1 (11-5) Behind when mistake and rider lost irons 1st, steered out and unseated rider before next, in a race won by Lord Henry (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hts chs (6) gf, 12 ran.
