Verdict

IRISH SAINT couldn't quite hold off Rolling Star at Cheltenham but that's still top-class juvenile form and he'd won easily over this course and distance on his UK debut when Shadarpour was tailed off. Paul Nicholls won this in 2011 with Zarkandar and his French import can follow suit before heading for The Festival. Chris Pea Green has done well over hurdles and impressed in a hot contest at Huntingdon earlier this month. However, this is easily his toughest task to date as he is giving 3lb to Vasco Du Ronceray, placed in Grade 2 contests at Cheltenham and Doncaster since winning at Hereford, and 7lb to L'unique. Alan King's filly is on a hat-trick after following up her Aintree Listed win with another success over this track and trip. Foster's Road looks to be out of his depth while newcomer Courtesy Call may need the experience and a longer trip, though was a very decent stayer on the Flat and still holds an entry in the Triumph Hurdle.

Formwatch

Chris Pea Green 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, led 3 out, clear 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs beating Zamdy Man (10-12) by 7l, 12 ran.

Irish Saint (FR) 10-11fav (11-7) Led, 1 length clear last, ridden and hard pressed flat, kept on until headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Rolling Star (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.

Foster's Road 16-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan beating Shernando (11-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.

Vasco Du Ronceray (FR) 4-6fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd before 3 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra last 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Kashmir Peak (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.

Courtesy Call (IRE) 5-1fav (8-5) Prominent, chased clear leader 10f out, joined leader 7f out, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Domination (8-9) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep (flat).

L'unique (FR) 4-5fav (10-12) Tracked leader until before 3rd, tracked leading pair, headway to lead 4 out, shaken up and came readily clear soon after 2 out, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Vibrato Valtat (10-7) by 8l, 5 ran.

Shadarpour (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly 1st, jumped very slow 3rd and lost further ground on main group, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Pistol (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy.