Saint Des Saints from the G Macaire stable had already put up a good figure when winning a 3yo Handicap Hurdle at Auteuil on Nov 25. It improved on this mark when comfortably winning a Gd3 4yo Hurdle at Auteuil on Mar 10. Going from strength to strength this one is more than useful, it having won a 3yo Chase in a good time as well. Saint Des Saints confirmed its position at the top in France with another Gd3 Hurdle win at Auteuil on April 1. On April 27 another easy victory netted it a Gd2 Hurdle. How good is this horse?

There are likely to be a number of decent four year olds, who will emerge in France over the coming months. One who looked more than useful was Rhum Raisin, who won comfortably at Auteuil on Mar 17. It could be a 140+ horse.

Palarshan, fit from racing in Southern France, made a tremondous impression with an easy win at Cheltenham April 17, on its UK debut. Connections are considering Chasing next season. The time in this race was decent thanks to the suicidal pace set by Live The Dream, who finished tailed off. Also performing below par was Triumph third Diamond Joshua pulled up after never being in contention. This run is best ignored. Will be well handicapped on the flat and it would not be a surprise to see it pop in somewhere at a decent price.

Quazar, deserved a decent prize after running consistently for most of the season. Its victory in the Gd2 4yo Novices Hurdle at Aintree on April 4 merited a useful rating thanks to the suicidal pace set by the front running Londoner. The second, Abbot, led between the last 2 hurdles but had no answer to the pace of the winner. Newhall had threatened coming into the straight but could only run on at the one pace. A similar effort to her Triumph Hurdle second.

Quazar followed up its win at Aintree with another in the Gd1 Campion Four Year Old Hurdle from Newhall and Balapour at Punchestown on April 25. The race was not quite as fast as at Aintree and the winner did well to win having been trapped on the inside coming round the final turn into the short straight.

Non So ridden confidently from the front ran its rivals into the ground for an easy victory at Folkstone on January 15. It was not so impressive in scraping home at Fontwell on January 22. It may now benefit from a rest until next season. It ran too freely in the Triumph Hurdle in making the running, eventually being pulled up. Handicaps beckon next season.

Vol Solitaire won the Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham on 26 January but the race was run very slowly in desperate ground. The decent time-rating it has achieved was in defeat by Or Ou Argent over 15f at Auteuil last June. The ground that day was not very slow. One of those found out by the searching gallop in the Triumph. It has subsequently won a slowly run Welsh Champion hurdle (hcap) at Chepstow April 1, making all just holding on from the older Copeland who would have been suited by a more positive ride.

Or Ou Agent, itself bounced back to form after a few indifferent runs with a win against a decent field including Cobreces, third, at Auteuil on April 15.

Tempo D'Or, a stable companion of Saint Des Saints, won the Finale at Chepstow on Dec 27. It has been exposed as one paced since then in modestly run contests. Unable to contest the Triumph due to injury.

Dubai Seven Stars, finished a never nearer ninth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham on Mar 12.

Hyderabad, a game winner of a 4yo hurdle at Fairyhouse on April 1 is likely to improve over further. On its flat should be capable of 130 on ideal going.