held up in rear, steady headway and edged right over 2f out, hung right inside final furlong, never reached leaders
tracked leader, weakened 5f out, soon tailed off, pulled up over 2f out
mid-division, headway 2f out, headway and stayed on strongly final furlong, no chance with winner
behind, some headway over 1f out, never on terms
pulled hard in rear, headway 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway halfway, weakened quickly over 2f out
pulled hard, held up, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
held up, mid-division, effort over 2f out, edged left, kept on, never on terms
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway 4f out, led over 2f out, ran on well
held up, in touch, effort over 3f out, soon one pace
mid-division, weakened well over 2f out
in touch, effort 3f out out, soon weakened
held up, never dangerous
Alan King and Nicky Henderson have strong records in this race and it may be worth taking a chance with the Seven Barrows newcomer, Riverside Theatre, ahead of the form pick Sassanias. Dee Ee Williams won well at Fontwell and the jockey booking obviously takes the eye as Jay Pemberton makes way for Ruby Walsh. The second was due to run at Sandown on Friday and a big performance from that one would boost his credentials. Sassanias and Like A Hurricane both showed promise on debut before getting bogged down in the Exeter mud on New Year's Day; Sassanias fared best of the pair in third but the form looks no more than fair. Powerful and Burnswood are other newcomers to note whilst Murphy has been well backed in the past so must have shown something. There'd be a touch of irony if Murphy were able to lay down the law to the selection as the selection runs under the ownership of The Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership but we'll take Riverside Theatre to put his name in lights.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 7-4fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway 5f out, led over 2f out, shaken up and quickened clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) sft beating Wiesenfurst (10-1) by 6l, 13 ran.
Grey Dasler (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Mainly towards rear, 15th of 17, well behind Shalone (10-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan.
Like A Hurricane (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Towards rear, effort 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 16, 39l behind Fassaroe (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Mac Halen (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 5f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 13l behind Award Winner (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd in Dec.
Murphy (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, last of 16, well behind Marleybow (10-10) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Princesse de Mee (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Always behind, struggling over 7f out, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Dancingwithbubbles (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Bold Shuffle (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Headway 4f out to go in touch, weakened well over 2f out, 15th of 21, 19l behind Sunsetten (10-12) at Doncaster 1m 5f 4yo nhf (5) gd in Jan.
Burnswood (IRE) Monsun gelding, half-brother to winners on the flat and over jumps.
Jack Harbour (IRE) Presenting gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Powerful (IRE) Mr Combustible gelding out of an unraced mare.
Riverside Theatre King's Theatre gelding out of winning hurdler Disallowed.
Sassanias (FR) 5-4fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, outpaced 3f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Fassaroe (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Triumphus 50-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace final 2f, 7th of 16, 15l behind Gershwin (11-4) at Kempton 2m mdn nhf (5) sft.
Ede's The Best 12-1 (10-1) Prominent, chased winner 1m out, outpaced 4f out, kept on to go 2nd final 2f, 2nd of 12, 14l behind Isintshelovely (11-2) at Fontwell 1m 6f mrs nhf (6) gd in Jan.
Missus Jones (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, stayed on one pace final 2f, 7th of 13, 14l behind Dee Ee Williams (10-11) at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) sft.
