These qualifiers are tricky to unravel but if WELSH SAINT can handle the step-up in trip then he could be the one off 10-13. He's shaped well on all starts this term and his recent third in Listed company at Cheltenham reads well. He's only had four starts over hurdles and should be open to progression. Portrush Ted has clearly had issues in view of breaks between races but remains one to follow and is a major threat off what's still an acceptable mark. Burrows Park ran a sound fourth in the Lanzarote Hurdle last time, stays well and ought to be in the mix, along with Irish raider, Discorama and the unexposed Palmers Hill, back from a near 450-day absence.
Soul Emotion (FR) 10-3 (11-9) Prominent to 2nd, held up, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden to take 4th before last, one pace, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Thomas Darby (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Kilbricken Storm (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leader after 3rd, not fluent 4th, outpaced last bend, soon well held by leaders, 6th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Kris Spin (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, lost place after 8th, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Portrush Ted (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Always prominent on outside, led 2nd to before 4th, led again 8th, headed briefly before 3 out, ridden after next, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Grand Morning (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Burrows Park (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leader who went clear after 6th, closer before 3 out, chased new leader on long run before 2 out, soon every chance until pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugging on disputing well held 4th when badly hampered after the last, 4th of 13, 12l behind Burrows Edge (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Captain Drake (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Pressed leader, led narrowly 4 out, in command 2 out, clear last (limited comments due to reduced visibility), won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating The Kings Writ (12-0) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
White Moon (GER) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, no impression after, 7th of 14, 10 3/4l behind Phoenix Way (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Welsh Saint (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after not fluent 2 out, well held 5th last, kept on and went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Protektorat (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Palmers Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, headway on outside 3 out, close up when hit next, challenged approaching last, ridden to lead flat, asserted towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Unblinking (10-6) by 1 1/4l, 23 ran.
Orchard Thieves (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 15, 30 3/4l behind Russian Hawk (10-12) at Exeter 2m 6f (4) gs in Nov.
Tea Time Fred 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear most of way, tailing off when pulled up before 8th, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Midnight Sapphire 33-1 (10-0) Held up in last pair, bit closer approaching 4 out, headway approaching next, went 2nd on long run before 2 out, led before 2 out until 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Coded Message (10-6) at Kempton 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Discorama (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, slight mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, ridden in 3rd and no impression entering straight, no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Easywork (11-11) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Cartwright 10-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, ridden after 4 out and soon detached, no impression in straight, never a factor, 10th of 11, 31 1/4l behind Ice Cold Soul (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan.
