The first selection of the afternoon on day two of the October meeting comes in the Novices' Hurdle over three miles and we are siding with the Richard Bandey trained Saint Palais.
A five year old that had started over hurdles at the end of the 20/21 season racing three times and placing in Maiden and Handicap events, but was swiftly sent over fences last term and looked a superb talent.
Making his seasonal debut in October last year when winning a Handicap Chase at Worcester in good fashion over 2m7f, he then went up to three miles at Wetherby and made it back to back wins.
Stepped up even further in trip over the Christmas period at Newbury he made it a hat-trick of wins over fences, loving the trip and soft ground to beat the smart Gericault Roque.
Stepping out of handicap company into the Grade Two Towton Novices' Chase he ran now race at Wetherby but finished the season getting back to winning ways at Uttoxeter on soft ground in a Handicap.
Getting weight off the main contenders in the field for this event on his drop back to hurdles makes him interesting with him being a thorough stayer at the trip and not minding any rain that falls.