in touch, chased leaders after 4th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, modest 3rd
made all, challenged before 2 out, hard driven when idled approaching last, stayed on well
held up in rear, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
in touch, struggling after 3rd, soon detatched, pulled up before 5th
chased leaders, under pressure 5th, soon beaten, tailed off
keen early, tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, moderate 4th
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, soon hard ridden, kept on well under pressure
Kings Lad was among the first beaten in last month's County Hurdle at Cheltenham but this is a big drop in grade. He's been found wanting twice over this longer trip, however, and we'll take him on here with SOUTHFIELD THEATRE. Paul Nicholls' gelding was placed in a Grade 2 over this distance at Newbury in December and got back to winning ways over further at Exeter last month. Thinger Licht won at Towcester on his UK debut and is obviously useful but the four-year-old Seventh Sign is tried in blinkers after being pulled up at Huntingdon.
Kings Lad (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, lst place after 3 out, soon weakened and behind, tailed off, 24th of 28, well behind Ted Veale (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 4-9fav (11-3) Held up, not much room 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway after 6th, not fluent 9th, challenged 3 out, hit 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Billy No Name (11-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Actodos (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, chased leader 10f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 7, well behind First Rock (8-13) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov '11 (flat).
Baldadash (IRE) 200-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, behind 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Simonsig (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar '12, 17 ran.
Chain Reactor 40-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, stayed on before 2 out, left in modest 3rd at last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 10, 30l behind Fishing Bridge (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Marmalade Man 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 4th, ridden and struggling after 3 out, modest 6th before last, 6th of 13, 25l behind Viva Steve (11-1) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Seventh Sign 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place and ridden after 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Chris Pea Green (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Thinger Licht (FR) 11-4fav (10-6) Held up in touch, closed 3 out, led before next where not fluent, driven out, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Reyno (11-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
King Caractacus 50-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, not fluent 7th, headway on inside before 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Loudmouth (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Ricketyrock 100-1 (10-9) Took keen hold in touch, ridden and outpaced soon after 4 out, no chance after, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Lienosus (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
