stumbled 1st, in touch, chasing leaders when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leader, led after 4th until before 7th, weakened quickly next, tailed off
took keen hold in rear, never a factor, tailed off
chased leaders, 2nd before 5th, led before 7th until after next, led again after 3 out, kept on well
chased leaders, led before 8th until after 3 out, chased winnner under pressure until before 2 out, 2nd again 2 out, ridden carried head high and not quicken between last two, lost 2nd before last, weakened flat
mid-division, lost place before 6th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 7th, 2nd before 8th until before 2 out, driven and not quicken between last two, went 3rd soon after last, one pace
mid-division on inside, headway approaching 7th, 2nd before 2 out until 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before the last
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along in 5th before next, went 2nd before the last, no chance with winner
led until after 4th, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up after 6th
held up in last pair, headway approaching 7th, driven and mistakes 8th and next, struggling and no chance after
always towards rear, tailed off
Aston Cantlow, winner of a Kilbeggan bumper in April, is worth noting on his hurdling debut. Clock On Tom was second to a subsequent winner at Sedgefield four weeks ago while Royalraise and another bumper winner, Simply The West, are others for the short-list. Church Hall's Ffos Las victory has been franked and James Banks' claim reduces his penalty but the step up in trip should suit MONBEG THEATRE. He was beaten for pace over 2m here last time by Kalane but compensation awaits. Net Work Rouge would have finished a lot closer at Uttoxeter last month had he not made a hash of the second-last and he'll have learned from that.
Church Hall (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, led before hit last, kept on well flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct beating Audacious Plan (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Aston Cantlow 5-1 (12-0) Held up, closer order in 6th after 5f, soon tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd before straight, 2nd and challenged inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead on line, won at Kilbeggan 2m NH flat gd in Apr beating Table Tips (11-0) by shd, 9 ran.
Clock On Tom 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 3 out, headway before 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Roserrow (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 1st, 2nd before 6th, led after 3 out until before 2 out, chased winner, ridden and well held before last, kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Kalane (10-5) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Net Work Rouge (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led 2nd, soon headed, led 6th, headed 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 8, 13l behind Come On Laurie (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Not A Bother Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 17, 36l behind The Grey Taylor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Royalraise (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold early, headway 8f out, lost place over 3f out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Battle Born (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Simply The West (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, went 2nd 4 out, led before 3 out, clear before 2 out, blundered last, got tired and wandered run-in, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Rolling Maul (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Singlefarmpayment 100-1 (10-12) In rear, fell 1st, in a race won by Hello George (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 17 ran.
Soupcon D'albain (FR) 7-4 (12-0) Made all; ro wl, won at Grafton 3m ptp gf in May beating Champion Versions (12-0) by 2l, 7 ran.
Theunnamedsoldier 20-1 (11-0) Led 3f, led again 7f out, headed 4f out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 22l behind Duke Des Champs (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Oct.
Wish In A Well (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, progress into 7th 4f out, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 15, 13l behind Officer Cadet (12-0) at Down Royal 2m NH flat gf in May.