Nico de Boinville: “Of course, we hope he can make a winning return”

Haydock

12.55pm

Allart

I rode him when he won his races at Ludlow and Doncaster before he went on to finish a very good fifth in the Supreme, and we were obviously thrilled with his chasing debut at Ascot. To pitch him into a Grade 2 straight up was a bold call but he delivered in style – he really warmed to his task as the race unfolded – and the form of his defeat of Fiddlerontheroof there certainly wasn’t let down by the runner-up at Warwick last Saturday. He has a 5lb penalty here and faces deeper ground, and there is little between him and Silver Hallmark at these weights, but we like to think we have a Cheltenham possible on our hands.

1.30pm

Llandinabo Lad

Tom [Symonds] has done me two big favours today, in booking me for this horse and then not declaring Song For Someone in The New One Unibet Hurdle! Joking aside, this really is a great ride to pick up. Like Allart, he has a tough task with a 5lb penalty but a similar burden didn’t stop him running a blinder when second to the unpenalised My Drogo at Ascot last time. He has a course win on soft ground to his name, and I think it is reasonable to say that he is the one to beat here, for all he meets four smart and promising rivals.

2.05pm

Hijack

I am not sure what happened when he disappointed at Cheltenham, so it was good to see him bounce back with a solid, close third over 2m3f in heavy ground here last time. The step up to 3m is an unknown but it certainly feels worth trying.

2.40pm

Lamanver Pippin

I suppose you have to say he was disappointing in the Welsh National Trial won by Secret Reprieve at Chepstow last month, but he has been given a break since then and he has at least inched down the weights as a result. He had earlier run a very good third at Cheltenham and he has won in the heavy at Ffos Las, so he has chances if back to form here.

3.15pm

Buveur D’Air

As I said earlier, the fact that the race-fit and improving Song For Someone, who I know well, doesn’t run is good from a selfish point of view. But, really, this was all about Buveur D’Air all along, anyway. We know how good the dual Champion Hurdler was at his best and the fact that he hasn’t been out since coming back with that very nasty injury in the 2019 Fighting Fifth means he also arrives here without a penalty, too. You have probably read about his gallop last week, but let’s just say I was very happy with him. He travelled and schooled well in that piece of work, but of course the racecourse experience is a different matter altogether. He will need to be sharp to see off the likes of the race-fit, 157-rated Ballyandy, for all he carries a 6lb penalty, and Navajo Pass is likely to set a strong gallop, but of course we hope he can make a winning return. The ground probably isn’t ideal for his comeback, but he has won a Champion Hurdle on heavy and has won around here over fences, too.