3rd-Dec-2021

Pileon is favourite for this, but he is 100/30 favourite, and that is more than fair.

Philip Hobbs’ horse ran better than the bare form of the run suggests in the Pertemps qualifier at Aintree four weeks ago. He travelled well into the home straight, but he lost momentum at the second last flight and he tired from there, but he still kept on well to finish just over two lengths behind the winner Koshari. Remastered, who might have won the Ladbrokes Trophy on Saturday had he not come down at the fourth last fence, finished just in front of him in third.

It didn’t really happen for Pileon last season, but he had that in common with a lot of his stable companions. The yard is in much better form this season.

Pileon finished second in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2020, he looked a winner before he was collared close home by the West Yorkshire Hurdle winner Indefatigable. He proved that day that he was up to a mark of 138.

He dropped down the weights during his indifferent season last season, to a mark of 132, and the handicapper dropped him by another 1lb after his Aintree run.  He could be a well handicapped horse now on a mark of 131, 7lb lower than his Martin Pipe mark, and he stayed three miles well at Aintree last time. He is unexposed at the trip. 

PILEON WON (ADV 100/30, SP 5/2)