Theatre date for Egan

John Egan is set to team up with Theatre again in Saturday’s totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

The pair combined to good effect when winning at Ascot last time and trainer Jamie Poulton would be satisfied if Egan can get within 4lb of his 7st 10lb burden.

“The Cesarewitch is very much the plan and John Egan will take the ride again,” confirmed Poulton.

“I’ve told him if he can get down to 8st or 8st 1lb that will be fine as he is worth the overweight as he is one of the best.

“He did the same to win the Chester Cup on Admiral and this is a similar sort of thing.”

Poulton is facing an anxious wait though, as Theatre is towards the bottom of the handicap and needs a number of runners to come out if he is to make the cut.

“I would be devastated if he didn’t get in as he is in tremendous form at the moment,” he said.

“My wife and daughter have done a fantastic job with him, he’s in great nick and if he gets in, he will be there or thereabouts.”

Before his Ascot success, Theatre had not won on the level since April 2003 and Poulton was relieved to see the seven-year-old finally come good.

“It was a good win at Ascot last time, things just fell right for him off a strong gallop and in a race like the Cesarewitch you know you will definitely get the pace,” he explained.

“It was a long wait though as he had gone three years without winning.

“Any cut would be a help but he will run as even the good to firm ground now is not as quick as it is in summer.”

The Lewes handler sent Land ‘n Stars for the two-mile-two-furlong handicap feature last year and Poulton is hoping for a little more luck in-running this time around.

“We were a bit unlucky last year with Land ‘n Stars but hopefully we can improve on that,” he added.

Theatre is a general 14-1 chance for the Cesarewitch, although the race sponsors go as low as 12-1 about the Theatrical gelding.