reluctant to race, soon led, not fluent 7th, pecked next, headed after 4 out, soon hampered and beaten
tracked leader, hit 6th, led after 4 out, headed next, soon led again, driven out
held up in touch in rear, mistake 6th, closed 8th, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, challenged last, no impression towards finish
jumped left at times, chased leader, not fluent 2nd, nipped through on inside to challenge on last bend, led 3 out, soon headed, mistake 2 out, weakened last
Changing The Guard has won three times over fences though hasn’t raced over the larger obstacles since 2014. THEATRE MILL has a more recent chasing success and is 5lb higher than when scoring at Southwell in September. He’s preferred to Authorized Too but Lautaret, an import from France, may prove a bigger threat on his debut for new connections having placed on a couple of occasions over fences earlier in the year.
Changing The Guard 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led before 5 out, headed before last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Wistari Rocks (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Authorized Too 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place before 5th, not fluent 7th, short of room next, outpaced and no impression from 4 out, last of 7, 12l behind I'dliketheoption (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Theatre Mill (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Raced keenly, mostly jumped well but sometimes went left, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3rd, hit 6th, led after 9th until pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 5l behind Boa Island (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Lautaret (FR) (10-8) 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Qualimotcho (10-3) at Granville 2m 1f gd in May.
