Cool Mix led for a long way over 2m on heavy ground here last month but couldn't find extra when headed. He may be ridden with more restraint to get the trip. Hangard won a bumper here on soft going but didn't appear to handle testing conditions on a return visit. Winning point-to-pointer Sweet As Candy was always in the firing-line on his hurdling debut over this trip at Newcastle and will have come on a bundle for the experience but ARCTIC VODKA has definitely improved and it was a cracking effort when just failing to concede 8lb to the well supported Trongate here last time, form that could be good enough for this. Winning point-to-pointer Saint Freule will find this trip much more to his liking after a couple of moderate runs over the minimum.
Arctic Vodka 10-1 (11-12) With leader, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Trongate (11-2) at Ayr 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Cool Mix 7-4fav (11-0) Led, clear before 4th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace and well held run-in, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Mcgowan's Pass (11-0) at Ayr 2m mdn (5) hvy in Dec.
Hangard 13-2 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Idee De Garde (11-5) at Ayr 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Saint Freule (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 2nd, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Waterlord (11-4) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Sweet As Candy (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 15, 3 1/4l behind The Great Getaway (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Trixster (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place after 6th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Knight In Dubai (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Crawfords Mill (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression, 14th of 25, 28 3/4l behind A Hardy Nailer (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
