14:55

A small field for this Grade One but nevertheless a classy quartet. Fury Road is the outsider of the four but did win a Grade One on his sole win over fences. A bad mistake and consequently bumping into Galopin Des Champs meant he didn’t give a good account of himself at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s a smart horse but he does have a bit to find on the remainder of the field.

 

Bravemansgame has won all of his starts over fences and won them well. He got his revenge on Ahoy Senor in the Kauto Star at Kempton and put in an excellent round of jumping when cantering clear at Newbury. He missed Cheltenham. with the ground being cited as the reason, which could play into his favour as he avoided a gruelling race that day. However, he was put in his place at Aintree, last year, by Ahoy Senor and there is the question as to whether he will see out the trip, which is further and more relentless than that of Kempton.

 

Ahoy Senor won the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at this meeting last year, over this distance and was highly impressive. He’s hit the post in two Grade One races subsequently, with Bravemansgame getting the better of him at Kempton and L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham. He’s a smart horse and he would be even more fancied to give a good account of himself again if he could smarten up his jumping.

 

L’Homme Presse is unbeaten in five starts over chases and is the one to beat. He’s been highly impressive in all his victories, saving his best for the two Grade One races. He scooted home on Good-to-Soft at Sandown, in the Scilly Isles, and was a game winner of the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. He will have no qualms with the distance or the ground. Horses who have ran at Cheltenham tend to do well here so that should play into his favour. Here’s hoping he can cap off an unbeaten season.

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