mid-division, headway 11th, not fluent next, not fluent and weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 11th, ridden after 3 out, one pace flat
prominent, led when mistake 2nd, headed 7th, stayed handy, ridden 3 out, brushed by leader when challenging flat, led close home
held up towards rear, mistakes 4th and 6th, headway 11th, mistake 13th, ridden next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, not always fluent, ridden and lost place after 8th, pulled up before 10th
led until 2nd, prominent, hit 12th, ridden 4 out, blundered 2 out, stayed on flat, held by front pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led approaching 2 out, edged left before last, jumped right at fence, soon hung left and pressed, headed close home
prominent, led 7th, jumped left 14th, headed before 2 out, weakened flat
mistake 1st, in rear, not fluent and reminders 6th, pulled up before 10th
Considering he'd been off for two years, Theophrastus ran a cracker behind No No Bingo over 2m4f here last month and the longer trip is in his favour. River D'Or is well treated on his best form, as is Bishophill Jack, while Monty's Revenge is back on the same mark as when successful over course and distance on Boxing Day. QUEEN OF MANTUA was only racing for the fourth time over fences when winning over a shorter trip here last month. She has more to do today but looks to be improving so gets the nod as Meet The Critics continues to disappoint.
Theophrastus (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd from last, kept on and always held towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind No No Bingo (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
River D'or (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 13th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 17, well behind Addiction (11-1) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Noble Witness (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Made most, ridden when rider dropped whip after 4 out, soon hard pressed, headed 2 out, 1 length down and one pace when blundered last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Haar (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Meet The Critics (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, struggling 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Addiction (11-1) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
Mongress Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) With leader, led after 5th, jumped right from next, mistake 12th, jumped violently right from next, blundered and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, fell last, in a race won by Themilanhorse (11-0) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place halfway, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 29l behind City Press (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Queen Of Mantua (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3 out, pressed after last, kept on gamely, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 3f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gd in Apr beating Old Dreams (10-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Monty's Revenge (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened run-in, 6th of 8, 16l behind Solis (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Rogue Dancer (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Behind, struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Majorica King (10-7) at Towcester 2m mdn chs (5) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
