made all, hit 12th, ridden clear before 3 out, idled flat
chased leaders, went 3rd at 4th, weakened 13th
refused to race and took no part
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th until hit 10th, 2nd again next, ridden and held when mistake 3 out
not fluent, with winner, went right 4thand 5th, hit 6th and reminder, remider again after 7th, mistake and lost 2nd 8th, 2nd again 10th until next, driven and weakened 4 out
Opening Batsman didn't perform when well fancied at Ludlow earlier this month but is capable of more. Howlongisafoot ran well to be second to Generous Ransom at Sandown earlier this month and will be backed to go one better but we're going to take a chance on the mare THEATRE QUEEN. Superbly-bred, she's won six of her eight starts between the flags and both previous runs under Rules. She was particularly impressive in a valuable hunter chase at Stratford in May and could be good enough to shrug off a subsequent absence. Rally ran well over shorter on his chasing bow here in decent company and is another to consider.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Chased leading pair, 2nd at 7th, led 9th, made most after, hit 2 out and soon headed, chased winner, every chance last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Generous Ransom (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Days Ahead (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, no extra from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cassells Rock (10-3) at Bellewstown 2m 4f hcp hdl gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Theatre Queen (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Led into start, soon close up, led 3rd, clear last, stayed on strongly, won at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gs in May beating Chosen Milan (11-3) by 8l, 10 ran.
Freckle Face 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 16th, pushed along in 4th before 4 out, hit 4 out, mistake and weakened next, 7th of 12, 27l behind Gorsky Island (11-6) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Rally 20-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, ridden when blundered 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Black River (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcap ch (3) sft.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division on outside, lost place 14th, soon struggling, behind 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Royal Player (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.