Make it Mikael one more time
He is unbeaten in five races over flights, since coming from France to be trained by Willie Mullins, and is regarded by connections as a possible Cheltenham Gold Cup winner down the line.
The five-year-old put up a fine performance to win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, despite running too freely for his own good.
The selection, however, surged to the front heading to the final flight to beat Karabak and Diamond Harry, in what looked a good renewal of that contest.
Mikael d’Haguenet’s stable companion, Cousin Vinny, is put forward as the principal danger.
He went off favourite for the Suupreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but was basically beaten even before the tapes flew up.
Cousin Vinny never settled in at the Festival, but is a high-class horse and, reportedly, working really well of late.
The Rabobank Champion Hurdle promises one of the races of the week, bringing together Punjabi, Solwhit and Quevega.
Punjabi showed just what a tough customer he is in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham when getting the best of a dour struggle with Celestial Halo and Binocular.
He had a desperately hard race, however, and is regarded as at his best on a decent surface.
Quevega is the dark one of the contest and there is no knowing how good she is. The five-year-old bolted in at Cheltenham, taking a Grade 2 event for mares by 14 lengths.
Solwhit has made massive improvement as the season has progressed, stepping into Grade 1 company to beat Fiveforthree at Aintree. Charles Byrnes’ charge gets the vote.
The Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle is best left to Philip Hobbs’ Copper Bleu. Fourth behind Go Native in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and beaten a head into second by Bouggler in a Grade 2 at Aintree, this is a drop in grade.
