Saltire Festival Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 3m 58.7s

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Selected odds by:

Benefit Run^p⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 122| D

22/1

Losing run is mounting up but clearly fitter for his hurdles return when runner-up over fences at Galway (18.2f) in July, collared close home. Subsequent Sligo display in September was disappointing but bounce back not ruled out.

Form: 307-72P

Cenotice^b,t¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| D

14/1

Successful 3 times following a lengthy absence last season, latterly at Bangor (17.3f) in April. Well beaten at Fontwell (17.7f) when last seen in May but better showing not ruled out back from a break.

Form: 12371-4

Monte Igueldo^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 116| D

8/15

5-y-o who is starting to fulfil early promise, off the mark in a Worcester maiden hurdle in September and improved to make first chase start a winning one at Huntingdon (16.5f) 3 weeks ago. Did it readily then and well worth considering with more to come.

Form: 2P5P-11

Diamond State^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113| CD

9/2

Started last campaign with 2 handicap hurdle wins here and placed next 3 starts there. Not at best at Perth final start but encouragement to glean from his Hexham chase debut second in September. Trip may be on the short side but open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 223F4-2

Pitempton Power²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 112| BF| C| D

5/1

Winner of first 2 starts over fences around the turn of the year (here latterly) and similar form from higher marks on 2 of last 3 starts during the spring. Below par final start but he's certainly no forlorn hope on return.

Form: 14F223-

Forecasts

Monte Igueldo (8/15), Diamond State (9/2), Pitempton Power (5/1), Cenotice (14/1), Benefit Run (22/1)

MONTE IGUELDO has got firmly back on track in recent months, supplementing his Worcester hurdles victory with an easy success on chase debut at Huntingdon 3 weeks ago, and he earns the vote to defy a rise in the weights with the prospect of more to come in this sphere. Diamond State and Cenotice head up the dangers.