THERE wasn’t much between Harambe, Quoi De Neuf, and Monsieur Lecoq when they met in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month – with Zanza, Countister, and Mohaayed back in the field – and there may not be much between them again today.

Quoi De Neuf raced around the inside the whole way that day, probably on the worst of the ground, while Monsieur Lecoq raced freely early on, and Mohaayed is one for one at Ascot, and is back down to a handicap mark of 145, the mark off which he won this race last year. There are lots of cases to be made.

Compelling

One of the more compelling ones, however, is the case for Umbrigado. David Pipe’s horse ran better than the bare form of the run suggests last time in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day.

He travelled well through his race, not far off the fast early pace, and he appeared to be travelling best of all just behind the front rank as they levelled up for home. He was still third when they jumped the second last flight, but he just tired from there. He just didn’t see out the three-mile trip.

He won over two and a quarter miles last season, and he ran in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April over two and a half, but he won his bumper over two miles, and he won his maiden hurdle over two miles on soft ground at Southwell last December.

The fact that David Pipe was happy to allow him take his chance in a Grade 1 race at Aintree in April gives an indication of the regard in which he is held, and he travelled like a good horse for a long way at Haydock last time. That was his first run since a wind operation, so he could improve now on his second run back.

He is progressive anyway, he has raced just five times under rules and just four times over hurdles. He goes well on soft ground and, as long as they go a decent pace, which they don’t always to in this race, two miles on soft ground at Ascot should be a sufficient test for him.

And David Pipe has his horses in really good form.

Game run

Lord Du Mesnil could be the answer to the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock. Richard Hobson’s horse was game last time in winning a novices’ handicap chase at Newcastle.

He led from flagfall that day and, while he was passed when he made a mistake at the second last fence, he rallied gamely from there and got back up to beat Sam’s Adventure by a neck.

Victory

The handicapper raised him by 5lbs for that to a mark of 127, but that was his first victory ever, and there is every chance that he will go forward from that now. He has had plenty of racing, but he is only six. He still has the potential to progress as a staying chaser.

He goes well on heavy ground, and, he has also run well at Auteuil and Stratford in the past, so we know that three miles on heavy ground at a flat left-handed track suits him well.

Recommended

Umbrigado, 1 point win, 3.35 Ascot, 7/1 (generally)

Lord Du Mesnil, 1 point win, 2.40 Haydock, 7/1 (generally)