COLIN Tizzard admits he is mystified by Alary’s disappointing run on his British debut in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The Dorset trainer is determined to find out why the highly-regarded French import ran way below par, eventually being pulled up before the third-last fence in the feature race won by Bristol De Mai.

“He’s eaten his food and seems fine,” said Tizzard.

“Obviously it wasn’t his running. He wouldn’t be the first horse to come over from France and run like that and he won’t be the last.

“We don’t know why, but when I saw him on Sunday morning he was fine.

“What happens in the next month, no-one knows. We’re going to keep an open mind. It’s no good me guessing.

“He did not run as well as we were expecting, that’s for sure.

“In the ring before the race he looked a beautiful, big horse and that’s what we bought. He didn’t run like that so we’ve got to find out why.”