YOU can understand why, in many of the lists of horses to follow that you see these days for the National Hunt season ahead, you see Monbeg Genius’ name in there.

Jonjo O’Neill’s horse won three of his first four chases last season, then put up a career-best performance in finishing third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

That looked like a good run at the time, but it looks even better now, with the Ultima winner Corach Rambler running out an impressive winner of the Grand National next time, and the Ultima runner-up Fastorslow beating Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame – the Gold Cup first and second – and Envoi Allen in the Punchestown Gold Cup next time.

The Ultima first and second are now rated 13lb and 18lb respectively higher than they were at Cheltenham.

Monbeg Genius is only 7lb higher than he was at Cheltenham. He could be one of the best-handicapped staying chasers in training.

That said, there are reasons for taking him on in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup at Ascot today. For starters, he is fashionable, everybody knows how well the Ultima has worked out so far, and all that is factored into his odds for any potential target. He is 6/1 favourite for the Coral Gold Cup.

Secondly, he was beaten on his debut last season, he finished fourth of four in a novices’ handicap chase at Aintree. And thirdly, right-handed. He has never raced right-handed over fences.

Right races

That may be down to mere coincidence, down to the fact that the right races have been at left-handed tracks. But he won two of his four races over hurdles, and his two wins were gained at left-handed tracks, while his two defeats were at right-handed tracks.

Again, it may be down to circumstances instead of a preference for a specific orientation, but he has run right-handed just twice, and he has been beaten on both occasions.

Eldorado Allen’s best runs have also been at left-handed tracks, but there is no suggestion that he needs to go that way around.

He won his maiden hurdle at Sandown, and he won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his seasonal return two years ago.

Actually, Joe Tizzard’s horse is usually good on his seasonal return. His record on his seasonal debut since he arrived in Britain is 12112, and last season’s 2 was in the Charlie Hall Chase, when he finished second to King George winner and Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame.

It is interesting that connections have decided to run him in this handicap today instead of in the Charlie Hall Chase. All his runs last season before Aintree were in Grade 1 or Grade 2 contests. He didn’t win last season, but he finished second in that Charlie Hall Chase, and he finished second in the Betfair Chase.

He has been dropped to a mark of 154 now, 8lb lower than the mark on which he started off last season, and 12lb lower than his peak.

As well as that, Freddie Gingell claims a valuable 7lb. It seems like Eldorado Allen has been around for ages, but he is only nine, and four of the last six winners of this race were eight or older.

Regal Encore was 12 when he won it in 2020. This three-mile trip suits him well these days, and we know that he can operate on soft ground.

Byrne Group Chase

Earlier on the day, Boothill could be the answer to the Byrne Group Handicap Chase. Harry Fry’s horse is another who kept good company last season.

He won three of his first four chases, including the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton at Christmas, his only defeat in those four races coming when he bumped into Jonbon in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown on Tingle Creek day.

He was beaten in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster and in the Pendil Chase at Kempton after that, but he wasn’t beaten far by the 153-rated Tommy’s Oscar, to whom he was conceding 5lb, in the former, and the extended two-and-a-half-mile trip probably stretched him in the latter.

We haven’t seen him since then, since February, but he should be freshened up now after his break, and his trainer has probably had this race pencilled in for him for a little while.

He is another who goes well fresh, his record on his annual return in the autumn reads 231, and he has run well on the two occasions on which he has run at Ascot. He won over today’s course and distance in November last year.

This extended, stiff two miles suits him well, and he is at least fairly handicapped on a mark of 149, with the potential to go higher. He has raced just seven times over fences, so he could progress again this season.

Boothill, 2.05 Ascot, 7/2 (generally), 1 point win

Eldorado Allen, 3.45 Ascot, 6/1 (generally), 1 point win

Germany

A SMALL field of six line up for the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern in Munich tomorrow and Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance, the mount of Danny Tudhope, is the standout.

The five-year-old mare India won the Group 1 Preis von Europa in Cologne last time out where she had Assistant back in fourth and Best Of Lips in sixth but that looks weaker form.