The feature race of the afternoon at jumps racing HQ is the Grade Two International Hurdle over 2m 1/2f and last year's winner Song For Someone is our pick to defend his title.
The French flat recruit managed to win twice over hurdles as a juvenile before finishing sixth in the 4-Y-O hurdle here won by Pentland Hills.
In his first season in open company he was first tested in handicaps. Winning a low grade event easily, he then went on to place in a listed event and a Grade Three.
A mark in the 150’s started to look too stiff for handicaps and he transitioned into graded conditions company. Grossly outpaced in the Kingwell Hurdle two out, his massive engine kicked in and he rallied from the last flight to snatch victory at the line.
The really likeable performance saw him put away. Returning to the track last season for the three runner Ascot Hurdle, he was the outsider but won almost unchallenged when making all from the front.
Dropped in trip for his next run in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, another very likely performance saw him deny Silver Streak by a nose. Conceding a penalty for Grade Two successes, he showed his tenacity to hold on in a tight finish.
He was next seen in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, a change in tactics didn’t play to his strengths. Held up at the back of the field didn’t make use of his stamina and he failed to get anywhere near Goshen.
He rounded off last term being pulled up in the Aintree Hurdle with nothing going right for the horse on the day.
Back for another season he made his seasonal return when a good second behind Buzz in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot and following the same path to his win in this last year, he should be fully tuned for another big run.
