It's no certainty that MONDO MAN will settle better this time but, despite pulling so hard, he still managed to pose some sort of question to the Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba when they clashed at Ascot. That followed some serious Flat form when trained in France, so he has stacks of ability and that will probably be enough to see him home in front today. Opec appears the threat on hurdles form, judged on her penultimate start, but another step forward from the Scottish Triumph Hurdle winner St Pancras is feared more.[Richard Austen]
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Closely related to a 1m Group 1 winner; promising in French juvenile hurdles in the first half of 2024, his two wins including a Listed event at Auteuil (2m1f, very soft; tended to jump right); however, pulled up when 10-1 for Cheltenham Grade 2 four weeks ago on British debut.
Fairly useful for 1m4f/1m6f wins on Flat for previous yard; shaped encouragingly at Ascot (albeit about 17l behind Mondo Man) on hurdling debut and built on that with a strong late bid to register Listed win at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) three weeks ago; this demands more but he's promising.
Fair maiden on the Flat for William Haggas; last month's second attempt over hurdles was a step forward when third at Catterick (soft) but this Grade 2 looks a stiff task.
Placed in two of his three juvenile hurdles in France in the first half of last year; bought for 450,000euros last July but 20-1 and raced too freely when pulled up in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) on British debut.
Classy on the Flat, finishing fifth in the French Derby and fourth in King Edward VII at Royal Ascot; left France for 520,000euros in October and, despite racing far too freely, he briefly asked a question of top prospect Lulamba on hurdling debut at Ascot (1m7f, good) five weeks ago; leading form claims on that and a more settled performance would surely help him no end.
No great shakes on Flat but comfortably won from the front in her first three completed starts over hurdles, including by 8l in a fillies' juvenile Listed event at Newbury (2m, soft); player on that form but she faded badly when second favourite for Grade 2 at Chepstow (again 2m on soft) at Christmas.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
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