Riverside Theatre wins Ascot Chase

Riverside Theatre (11-10 fav) boosted his Cheltenham Festival claims with a win in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Nicky Henderson's charge had previously finished runner-up to Long Run in the King George VI Chase and gave that form a real boost as he draw clear of 14-1 chance Gauvain to score by six lengths.

Pride of Dulcote was the winner's main market rival but he took a crashing fall at the eighth fence.

Riverside Theatre is now 7-1 from 10s with Sky Bet for the Ryanair Chase next month.

"He quickened well. He ran in the Arkle last year but that was just a bit sharp for him and this trip is ideal for him,'' said rider Barry Geraghty.

It was later confirmed that the Paul Nicholls-trained Pride Of Dulcote had broken a leg in his fall and had to be put down.

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."

Riverside Theatre is entered in the Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham and Geraghty added: "He stays all day and it's much slower ground than it was at Kempton.

"I suppose the Ryanair could be a race for him but it's really up to Nicky."