Olly Murphy's LITTLE LEDGEND sets a fair standard on his close third at Ascot and is a big player with Sean Bowen booked again after a short break. The main threat could come from his stablemate Wandering Ego, who made a promising start under rules with his third at Newbury in November. Another who needs a close look is the striking newcomer Ned Hill, who cost 170,000euros as a 3yo and represents a yard that has been firing in winners recently.[David Moon]
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Went close in the second of his two Irish points last spring before being sold for £25,000; yard is 2-34 in bumpers in recent seasons but this son of Mahler has a good Flat pedigree and he needs checking in market on rules debut.
14,000euros half-brother to point/2m4f hurdle winner Sporting Mike; weak 14-1 shot and he finished a well-held sixth of 12 at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) last month; should know more this time but he needs to leave that debut form well behind.
Only third of six when odds-on for a point bumper in December and was sold for £4,500 later that month; hood is now added on rules debut and he needs plenty of improvement.
Close fourth on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, soft) last March and bought for £46,000 in May; market drifter out to 7-1 on rules debut at Ascot (1m7f, good) in November but he finished well for a close third in that tactical race; sets the standard on that promising effort and he's a big player back from a short break.
170,000euros 3yo; closely related to French 2m1f hurdle/2m4f cross-country chase winner Solingen, half-brother to winners Soir De Gala (2m-2m4f hurdle/chase) and Rebellio (French 2m hurdle); dam French 1m7f hurdle winner, half-sister to Solness; already had wind surgery but yard has been firing in winners recently and he's an interesting newcomer; tongue-tie applied.
Final-fence faller in an Irish point last March but he was close up at the time, and he also showed promise when third in a small-field Newbury bumper (2m, good; hood added) in November; one of two interesting contenders for Olly Murphy and has possibilities if he can build on that last run.
£24,000 3yo; fourth foal; dam well held in bumpers, closely related to 1m2f-1m4f winner Island Odyssey, half-sister to winners Scruntinise (useful 1m2f/1m4f), Grumeti (smart 2m hurdle/chase) and Ellerslie Tom (useful 2m hurdle/chase); this looks a tough enough starting point and is best watched unless market is persuasive.
26,000euros 3yo; second foal; half-sister to a fair Irish hurdler; dam 2m4f-2m5f hurdle winner, sister to useful staying hurdler Kris Spin; stable has some success in bumpers but this newcomer could be a longer-term prospect.
9,000gns 3yo; first foal; dam French 1m2f-1m6f winner (including Listed; RPR 104), closely related to 2m hurdle winner Bellbird, half-sister to winners Sublimis (1m4f Listed) and L'Absolue (1m5f), out of Royal Oak winner Be Fabulous; rare bumper runner for the yard and market should guide.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
