Breacher 17/2 (2pl) – Doncaster 1.30
It's no surprise seeing O'Brien and co at the top of the market for this Group 1, but I don't think you can forget about Breacher, who is dropping in odds as we speak.
William Muir has had a couple of very talented horses in his time, most recently Pyledriver. What he said about Breacher at the start of the season stuck with me. He said that this horse was the best horse he has ever trained, which is some going, and I know you shouldn't take a trainer's word as gospel, but that is a proper statement.
He hasn't disgraced himself on his last two starts, and based on his pedigree, you've got to say that today's trip and surface could be very good for him. He is by Cracksman, who did his best running on very testing surfaces, and he stayed further than a mile. He is trying a mile for the first time, and I'm very interested to see how he copes.
Mondo Man 10/1 (5pl) – Doncaster 3.55
There are much safer options in this race over Mondo Man, but they all have similar form lines, being ahead or in and around Impartiality. I don't think that form is the best to follow, as that named horse is a bridle horse who doesn't show much under pressure. As a result, I wanted to chance Mondo Man after a layoff.
The old Mondo Man would walk this race, but he has turned into a jumps horse, and on the back of the Ascot run, we don't know how reliable he is on the flat. In my opinion, he is worth a shot in handicap company, as if you were to look at his jumps performances, he got better throughout last year and showed that he can win tough races when lurking on a good enough handicap mark.
I deem him to be on a decent handicap mark of 100 if you were to focus on his three-year-old flat form. He was fifth in a Group 1 at this trip on heavy ground, and was only beaten by some smart horses including Sosie, Look De Vega, Ghostwriter and First Look. He was then fourth in a Group 2 won by Calandagan.
De Temps En Temps 5/1 (3pl) – Cheltenham 1.10
Martin Keighley does better with his chase runners, so I'm expecting De Temps En Temps to make a big impression on his chasing debut.
He's attracting a fair amount of support in the market, and I can see why. He is a course winner from his hurdling career last year, and that came in a Class 2. We know he can run well in good races, and he showcased that off a mark of 124 in a Class 2 at Ascot in February. Obviously, this is completely different as it's over fences, but he did finish second on his sole PTP run.
Freddie Keighley retains the partnership and removes a nice 5lbs, meaning that he has a nice racing weight for his first encounter over fences.
Here Comes Georgie 4/1 (3pl) – Cheltenham 2.55
I think this race is crying out for one of the unexposed horses to pop up and stamp their authority. Here Comes Georgie fits that bill nicely, and I'll be backing him.
We don't know if he'll stay this trip around Cheltenham, but Dan Skelton hasn't wasted any time in moving him up to this trip for his stable debut, and I think that is a massive confidence booster.
He is lurking on a dangerous handicap mark, and that is due to him being inconsistent for Dylan Cunha last year, who is a flat trainer. As a result, I think Dylan has worked wonders, as it has allowed Dan Skelton to get him at the right time, and usually, when Dan puts a horse up in trip like this, they don't miss too often.
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