We send two up to Newcastle for their jumps meeting on Tuesday afternoon, where the going is currently described as soft, good to soft in places.
Polisud was winning over this course and distance three weeks ago, on his second start after wind surgery, from a 7lb lower mark than now. He arrived from France in the autumn of 2022 with a rating of 116, and he is currently still 16lb below that mark. The one worry is the ground, as he is unproven on a sounder surface, so we wouldn't want it to dry out anymore. Polisud runs at 2.35.pm, in the 0-100 conditional jockeys handicap hurdle, over the extended two miles, with Emma Smith-Chaston retaining the ride.
Le Grand Vert was a promising second in a first time visor at Wetherby 26 days ago, for which he has been raised 2lb. His other stand out piece of form for us, was when he was also a runner up, over this course and distance just over a year ago. Le Grand Vert like Polisud is ex French, and is also unproven on a sounder surface. He runs at 4.35.pm, in the 0-100 novices handicap chase, over the extended two miles and seven furlongs, with Conor O'Farrell retaining the ride.
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Good luck to the connections, The Cheltenham Trail, and Richard Howard & Ben Howard.
Le Grand Vert.
