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Riverside Theatre Claims Ascot Prize
19/02/11
1 Riverside Theatre 11/10F
2 Gauvain 14/1
3 Deep Purple 10/1
7 ran Distances: 10l, 11l, 1½l
TIME 5m 23.31s (slow by 12.31s)
Riverside Theatre notched a first Grade One success as he romped home in the Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track.
Gauvain finished second
© Grossick Racing Photography
Sent off the 11-10 favourite, Nicky Henderson's charge could be called the winner a couple of fences out when Barry Geraghty kicked for home.
Riverside Theatre demonstrated a powerful turn of foot to prevail by 10 lengths from Gauvain while fellow fancied runner Pride Of Dulcote crashed out early on and unfortunately had to be put down.
Riverside Theatre finished second behind stablemate Long Run in the King George VI Chaselast time and could now also be a possible for a trip to Cheltenham.
Henderson said: "We had a bit of a board meeting this afternoon because I didn't think that was his ground.
"He's much better on better ground, but we hadn't been thinking of going to Cheltenham and we were going to wait for Aintree.
"Having said that, I'm not going to rule anything in or out. I'm going to have to sit down with the owners at a later date.
"He's learnt a lot in the jumping department and it's a good compliment to Long Run."
Nicholls was obviously upset at the loss of Pride Of Dulcote.
He said: "I believe he broke one of his hind legs and had to be put down. It's a real sickener."
