in touch in rear, ridden and headway 3 out, no impression from 2 out
disputed lead until led 5 out, headed next, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
close up, led 4 out, pushed along and clear approaching last, readily
disputed lead until hit 5th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
raced wide close up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
in touch in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, pressed leaders from 3 out, kept on one pace
close up, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3 out
Theatre Legend won two bumpers and has shown enough in two starts over timber to suggest he'll be winning soon, especially now tackling the minimum trip. BONNE QUESTION easily landed a Ffos Las handicap and was carrying a penalty when beaten a short-head at Sandown where a bad mistake two out didn't help. He was caught right on the line that day and this easier track can enable him to get back to winning ways despite a big leap in the weights. En Meme Temps ran well when runner-up here on Boxing Day but poorly at Newbury the following month where he became unsettled after early mistakes. Walsingham Grange has been chasing with no success and is better over hurdles though some rain would aid his cause.
Bonne Question (FR) 13-8fav (12-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, squeezed up on bend going out on last circuit, led before 2 out, soon clear, hit 2 out, reduced lead run-in, headed last strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Shanroe Tic Tec (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
En Meme Temps (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 2nd, not fluent next, well beaten after 5th, 8th of 10, dist behind Ar Mest (12-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Theatre Legend 12-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance next, lost 2nd before the last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 7 3/4l behind Schiehallion Munro (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Feb.
Walsingham Grange (USA) 66-1 (10-9) In rear, reminders and struggling after 8th, lost touch when pulled up before 11th, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Snookered (IRE) 8-1 (12-3) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, hit 4th, pushed along and effort approaching 3 out, jumped left and weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 13 3/4l behind Tim Rocco (11-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Ilaya (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leader 2nd, led after next and soon went clear, hit 3 out, came back to the field after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, ridden and well held between last 2, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 15 1/4l behind Pink Legend (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Think Ahead 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, well beaten 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Hartside (GER) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 6, 28 1/4l behind Gregarious (12-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Feb.