led and jumped left 1st, headed when mistake 3rd, led after next, headed 6th, led 7th, headed after 4 out, weakened before next, mistake 2 out
prominent, not fluent and led 3rd, headed after next, led 6th, headed next, led after 4 out, pecked last, driven flat, headed near finish
tracked leaders, fell 3rd
held up in rear, closed 6th, went 2nd before 2 out, closed last, stayed on well flat, led near finish
led until bumped 1st, tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, pushed along when not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
None are discounted from calculations in a tight and interesting heat. Casse Tete looked to need the run when capsizing quite late on his debut for Gary Moore and should improve here while Theatre Flame scored quite sweetly at Newbury last month but is, as yet, unproven on the forecast heavy ground. Zastra should land a chase sooner or later for the Tizzards and receives weight all round while Baby King, a decent sort over timber, makes his chasing debut for Tom George. However ASTRE DE LA COUR is taken to follow up a smooth small-field success at Taunton in December. He looks the sort to do well over fences and his yard do especially well with chasers - he also has a heavy ground victory on his CV from Ascot back in 2014.
Casse Tete (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Hung right most of way, raced on inside, in touch, headway tracking leaders 8th, went 2nd briefly 13th, chased leaders, pushed along before hit 3 out, tired when fell 2 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f (4) hvy in Jan.
Astre De La Cour (FR) Evensfav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed before next, led again 9th, clear 3 out, ran on strongly, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gf in Dec beating Notarfbad (11-12) by 5l, 3 ran.
Theatre Flame (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, not much room and pecked 8th, led before next, jumped left 2 out and last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Max Ward (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Baby King (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Held up in touch, raced wide from 6 out until 4 out, left 3rd from last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Zanstra (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Chased leader, went right 3rd, lost 2nd 9th, chased winner fom next, every chance when blundered 3 out, no extra and held next, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Only Gorgeous (10-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
