Competitive. The lightly raced FRENCH MASTER should improve again and could prove suited by the new trip, so he gets the vote ahead of Master Builder who did well over 1m6f last term and ran well over 1m4f on his return. Story Horse, Steel Tiger (if he's okay back on turf) and Dancing In Paris should run well, while Anzac Day is highly unexposed, making his handicap debut on just his second start since a long layoff.[Richard Austen]
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Had three handicap wins in 2024 and better than ever this term when close up in a useful 1m6f handicap at Musselburgh and third of ten in 1m4f Listed race here; major rise in the weights requires better still though.
Pretty useful in a productive hurdling campaign last term with this headgear; however, his minor honours in 1m2f Irish Group races in 2022 see him on a lofty mark for this first Flat race in 952 days.
Five wins in a tremendously progressive 2024 on Flat, with the first two of those at this track (one 1m6f) and the others in the mud; tailing off at Epsom last month reinforces doubts whether good ground is his ideal.
Scored last term in 1m4f novice events at Doncaster (good) in July and Kempton (AW; by 6l at 8-13) in October; continued his improvement when second of seven on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good) three weeks ago and no shock if he can carry on the good work now upped to 1m6f.
Progressive over 1m6f on varied ground last August-October and reappeared with a good second of 11 at Epsom last month despite a return to 1m4f; should be set for another big run.
Lightly raced in France on Flat and over hurdles, winner twice in both spheres; 20-1 fifth of nine in handicap hurdle at Newbury (2m) in March on yard debut but back to Flat with others seeming to have more solid claims.
Best turf form was on heavy going, but runner-up on good and good to soft at start of career; won a 1m4f novice at Newcastle in December and by a short head in 1m6f handicap at Chelmsford in April, before another good AW run back at 1m4f recently; return to 1m6f should be fine and he's a player if the AW form is transferred.
Emphatic winner of a 1m2f maiden at Newmarket (1m2f, soft) in October 2023 on second start; belated reappearance (1m2f, AW) last month looked satisfactory, except for his rider weighing in light, and there's plenty about him and his pedigree which makes this new trip look interesting for handicap debut; headgear is also enlisted.
Three races for Aidan O'Brien, showing best form on debut (1m, heavy; scored impressively); three handicap runs with cheekpieces for his new connections and he was back near his best when second of ten at Ascot latest; stepped up to 1m4f that day and gave encouragement for 1m6f today.
Did well at 1m4f-2m last spring/summer, including here, and back from 198 days off with creditable fourth at Newcastle 13 days ago; several stablemates have surged back to winning form recently and, having been 22-1 for that latest start, he too could be set to make a serious impact.
Immediately back to best with his two runs this season, tenaciously making all for a short-head win at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) on latest; that made it 2-2 under Saffie Osborne; 5lb higher today; big question to answer were the ground softer than good but he otherwise looks set to run well.
Often front-runner but not on last four outings; his wins have got more infrequent and the latest (2024 reappearance) was in just a three-runner race; has a good mark if on song but this 11yo is a renowned mud lover.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
