Saltire Festival Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 3m 55.23s

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Selected odds by:

Pull Green¹¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| D

4/1

Placed in points and fair winning form over hurdles. Low-key start over fences at Bangor in July but might have needed that.

Form: 3/513P-5

Mint Gold^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| BF| D

7/4

Rather lost his way over hurdles but has made a positive start over fences this season, off the mark at the second attempt at Perth. Creditable second at Kelso since and should go well again.

Form: 356-312

Western Sea^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 115| D

13/2

Back to best when runner-up at Sligo in September but disappointed both starts since. Headgear now given a whirl back down in trip.

Form: 3P-52P6

Ardera Cross^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 112| C| D

6/1

None too reliable but better signs last 2 starts so no forlorn hope.

Form: 967855

Tonto's Spirit^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 111| C| D

8/1

Front runner who took well to chasing early last season, winning 3 times. Has been operating well below his best on the Flat/over fences since the resumption, though.

Form: 686567

Cesar Du Gouet³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: L Horsfall| OR: 103| D

13/2

Fair handicap chaser who has posted only one creditable run this campaign but mark continues to slide at least.

Form: 5-75269

Non-Runners

Book Of Invasions²³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: S Mulqueen

Forecasts

Mint Gold (7/4), Pull Green (4/1), Book Of Invasions (11/2), Ardera Cross (6/1), Western Sea (13/2), Cesar Du Gouet (13/2), Tonto's Spirit (8/1)

MINT GOLD has made a positive start over fences and looks capable of winning again on the back of his Kelso second. Most of his rivals have something to prove for one reason or another, but Cesar du Gouget is becoming well treated.