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Robert Waley-Cohen is perhaps better known for being an owner and an important cog in the wheel at Cheltenham racecourse. He owned popular Gold Cup-winner Long Run and made headlines when providing his son Sam with a Grand National winner in his final race as a jockey, aboard Noble Yeats. It’s been a while since he’s had a runner as a trainer but he is set to have his first under rules since May 2022 at Ludlow on Friday. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Hardi Du Mesnil won comfortably over hurdles in his native France, before being purchased by Waley-Cohen and sent to Olly Murphy. He was an 11-length second in an introductory hurdle on his British debut and the winner is currently a 133-rated hurdler.
The gelding was then off the track for almost a year and he struggled in two subsequent starts for the yard. Waley-Cohen took over the training duties in April and his charge has run in two point-to-points since. Both efforts were fairly disappointing once again but he has the excuse of possibly needing the run on his first start for 246 days at Larkhill last time.
It would appear that three miles isn’t his trip and the drop back to 2m4f should be in his favour. You would perhaps hope that he would have come down the weights a bit quicker but he’s down to a mark of 120 and just about qualifies for this 0-120. The drop in class should also help but it’s hard to know what to expect from the seven-year-old here.
Outsider of the field at time of writing, there’s not much confidence behind the horse as of yet but Robert Waley-Cohen will undoubtedly be hoping for a good run after his substantial absence.
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