tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 10th until 11th, pushed along when not fluent and stumbled 3 out, soon beaten, well held from next
led until 2nd, led 3rd, slowed up on stable bend before 9th and ridden along briefly, headed 10th, led again next, clear 2 out, not fluent last, eased final 100 yards
prominent, led 2nd until 3rd, mistake 6th and dropped to 3rd, mistake 7th, jumped left and outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
SOUTHFIELD THEATRE was very impressive when making a winning start over fences at Chepstow. Neither of the placed horses have been able to frank the form but Paul Nicholls' charge still looks a useful novice in the making and should beat Hollow Penny, who is much more exposed, off level weights. The danger could be Horizontal Speed, who made mistakes at Aintree but still looked the likely winner approaching the last until running out of steam. Tom Neary looks hopelessly outclassed.
Hollow Penny 9-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, led before 3 out, blundered 2 out, eased heavily towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Bertie's Desire (10-8) by 6l, 10 ran.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Led, clear 2nd until after 5th, clear again from 5 out, mistake 3 out, hit last, ridden flat, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f nov chs (2) gs in Oct beating Monkey Kingdom (11-4) by 7l, 6 ran.
Horizontal Speed (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up, took keen hold, jumped right at times, not fluent 1st, hampered and closed 3rd, led after next, not fluent 9th, headed after 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Golden Hoof (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Tom Neary (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Shantou Bob (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
