tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, rallied on outside between last 2, stayed on flat, not reach winner
tracked leader, led 3r to 10th, chased leader, lost place 14th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 11th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before next
held up in touch on inside, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, 4 lengths clear last, kept on
tracked leaders, hit 12th, went 2nd 14th, ridden and outpaced 2 out, 4 lengths down last, soon lost 2nd, kept on flat
held up behind in touch, chased leaders after 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression
tracked leaders on inside, blundered 13th, 5th and outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, switched right after last, rallied flat
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 10th, hit 13th, ridden and headed between last 2, weakened flat
mid-division on outside, pushed along from 7th, lost place 12th, pulled up before next
mid-division, struggling 13th, behind when mistake 15th, no danger after
mid-division, blundered 15th, outpaced 4 out, never able to challenge
Recent rain probably hasn't done Riverside Theatre any favours as this is as far as he's ever been asked to race over. He was second in last season's King George, however, when he had Nacarat, winner of this 12 months ago, behind and beat old rival Medermit, another dubious stayer, into third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham on his latest appearance. Nacarat won the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton in February and likes flat tracks. He appears to have the beating of Follow The Plan on last year's form but was well behind Master Of The Hall over C&D in December. BURTON PORT finished ahead of What A Friend on his reappearance in the Aon Chase at Newbury before finishing an excellent fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when Carruthers was tailed off, Diamond Harry pulled up and What A Friend fell at the second. Winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at this meeting in 2010, Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old can gain a deserved success as the prolific Hunt Ball may be found wanting as he steps out of handicap company and up in distance. Roberto Goldback is visored for the first time but is thoroughly exposed at this level.
Burton Port (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 18th, chased leaders on outside 3 out, soon driven, effort and chance approaching next, no extra before last, 4th of 14, 8l behind Synchronised (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Carruthers 100-1 (11-10) Mid-division, hampered and dropped towards rear 2nd, mistake next, headway into mid-division on outside 10th, lost place 14th, soon behind, 10th of 14, well behind Synchronised (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Diamond Harry 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, struggling 17th, lost touch and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Synchronised (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Follow The Plan (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, moderate 5th halfway, moderate 5th and ridden entering straight, kept on one paced, 4th of 10, 27l behind The Sneezer (9-8) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs sft in Mar.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 13-2fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, went 3rd after 3 out, challenged on outside next, led between last 2, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar beating White Star Line (11-7) by 8l, 20 ran.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Waited with in 4th, travelling well approaching 2 out, switched left flat quickened to lead entering final furlong, pushed clear, easily, won at Kelso 2m 6f chs (2) gd in Mar beating According To Pete (11-4) by 4l, 5 ran.
Medermit (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch towards rear, hit 10, pushed along after 11th, headway when hit 13th, went close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, upsides flat, held close home, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
Nacarat (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Chased clear leader, closer order halfway, led approaching 13th, narrowly headed before 3 out, led again soon after 3 out, in command from 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb beating Hector's Choice (11-2) by 11l, 10 ran.
Riverside Theatre 7-2fav (11-10) Held up in touch in mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, closed 4th, pushed along after 10th, hit 13th, ridden to challenge 3 out, stayed on under strong pressure to lead final 50 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar beating Albertas Run (11-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Roberto Goldback (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 7th on inner halfway, no extra from 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Paddy Pub (9-7) at Naas 3m hcp chs sft in Mar.
What A Friend 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, fell 2nd, in a race won by Synchronised (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
