chased leading pair, pushed along turning in, soon outpaced and no chance with leading duo
led, joined 4th, pushed clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly
raced keenly, tracked winner, challenged 4th, chance when hit 3 out, pushed along and no chance with winner before 2 out
held up in 5th, weakened after 4th, tailed off
in rear, not fluent 3rd, tailed off next, never a factor
tracked leading trio, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 4 out, blundered and lost ground next, plugged on in modest 4th before 2 out
Saveasea didn’t have the pace to figure in an Aintree bumper last month but may do better over hurdles. Graystone found only one too good here last month but was then only third at Huntingdon when odds-on. Vazir won on the Polytrack at Deauville and has also placed on Turf so should make a hurdler but SAINT RIQUIER deserves to be a short-priced favourite on his second in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham, though Coolnaugh Haze is also worth a market check.
Coolnaugh Haze (IRE) 250-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, disputed moderate 2nd over 1f out, kept on without threatening easy winner in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Ruling (9-7) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn gd in Sep.
Graystone (IRE) 1-2fav (10-2) Mid-division, not fluent, closed after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 21 1/4l behind John Locke (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Saint Riquier (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leading trio, pushed along after 2 out, stayed on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Knight Salute (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Saveasea (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, switched right and some headway 3f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Legionar (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Spanish Hustle 33-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in rear, modest 7th when mistake 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 26 1/4l behind In This World (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Vazir (FR) (9-2) won at Deauville 1m 4f mdn stks gd in Aug beating Teddy Blue (9-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tiki Fire (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) In rear, tailed off when blundered 5th, never a factor, 7th of 9, dist behind Malakahna (10-10) at Fakenham 2m fll (4) gd in Oct.
Greystoke 11-2 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, some headway in 5th when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 34 1/4l behind In This World (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Pride Of Nepal 28-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 4 out, plugged on one pace, never near to challenge, 5th of 12, 28l behind Boulette (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Nov.