Flying Tiger drops in to more comfortable handicap territory having finished 4.5l behind Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’air in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth.
That form read literally means he should be favourite for this. But it wasn’t the most truly run race up at Newcastle, and I don’t think the sounder surface will necessarily help the top-weight either at a skinny looking price of 5/2.
He is worth taking on and there could be a decent mare on show in the shape of Irish Roe, who ran in last season’s Champion Bumper and is 3/4 in her first hurdles outings. The form of her last two starts is slightly difficult to get a read on with the re-opposing William H Bonney – who she beat last time out – getting the better of her on these handicap terms two starts back.
The recent form of AMOUR DE NUIT looks fairly solid and this five-year-old gelding looks progressive. Paul Nicholls intimated that the penny had finally dropped for this former flat-horse after his long summer break from the timber.
A dominating season opening win for Amour de Nuit was followed by an unlucky second to Poetic Rhythm – who subsequently finished close to Ballymore Novice Hurdle fancy On The Blind Side – when just getting outstayed over 2m 3f.
Amour de Nuit’s last race as a novice was seven days later where he picked up a Listed prize at Kempton over 2m in impressive fashion.
He was given another six weeks off before his recent run in a competitive Listed Handicap Hurdle over the same trip where he wasn’t disgraced in fifth.
That race was not run too suit with a slow early gallop meaning he raced keenly, and the slower ground didn’t aid his cause either.
He has been dropped to a 1lb lower mark and Bryony Frost takes a further five pounds off with her claim. He should get a better pace to aim at here and is expected to resume his improvement.
1pt win Amour de Nuit @9/2, 13:40 Doncaster, Saturday