Theatre Puts Up Star Performance

Those that wondered just how strong the King George VI Chase form might be following the revelation that third placed Kauto Star had returned a sick horse after the contest, got their answer at Ascot on Saturday when Riverside Theatre put up a superb display to run out a very easy winner of the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, writes Elliot Slater.

Heavily been backed prior to the off from 7/4 down to 11/10 favourite, Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was always travelling best and only had to be pushed out by Barry Geraghty to account for Gauvain by 10 lengths, with Deep Purple a further 11 lengths back in third, just ahead of Big Fella Thanks who ran a pleasing Grand National Trial for the Ferdy Murphy team in finishing a creditable fourth. Riverside Theatre was cut in the latest Cheltenham betting odds as a result of his win.

The victory of Riverside Theatre was made somewhat easier by his main market rival Pride of Dulcote taking a terrible fall at the eighth fence, in which he broke a leg and had to be put down, but that should take nothing away from the merit of the winning performance which delighted connections and confirms that the ‘King George’ is rock solid and that the runner-up continues on a steep upward curve.

Henderson had planned to run the Old Vic gelding at the Aintree Festival as he goes particularly well on decent ground, but having won so easily he admitted that he could be tempted to let him take his chance in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17. He observed that he will have to mull over that decision and discuss the matter with the winning syndicate of owners, headed by actor James Nesbitt.

Riverside Theatre is now down to 7/1 for the Ryanair Chase, joint-second favourite with Somersby for the Grade 1 two-mile-five-furlong event, behind 4/1 ante-post favourite Poquelin.