Mick Pastor one to follow for JP McManus after impressive Auteuil win

The JP McManus-owned Mick Pastor created a good impression when successful on his juvenile hurdling debut at Auteuil in May, with the runner-up winning a Grade 3 next time.

The owner's silks will also be carried by Nimix De Juilley, a winner on his hurdling debut at Strasbourg last autumn. He’ll have to go into handicaps with limited experience but looks interesting.

Fidelio Vallis is another to boast an eyecatching piece of Auteuil form. He shaped with real promise when chasing home a Grade 1 bumper winner on debut in April and was bought for John Hales.

Amateur champion David Maxwell has snapped up three French chasers. All had very useful form in their homeland, notably Cat Tiger, who was not far behind the best four-year-old chasers in France last year.

Credit: David Cramphorn

Maxwell teamed up with his new purchase to win the Grade 3 Prix Morgex at Auteuil last November, but the five-year-old is still a maiden over hurdles so Nicholls intends to go down that route.

Staying novice hurdles are expected to suit Saint Xavier, whose only win over fences came in a valuable Grade 3 handicap at Auteuil last October, while four-time chase winner Bob And Co was bought for Maxwell to partner in hunter chases.

Cap Du Mathan showed promise in two starts over hurdles at Auteuil last year, notably when second to Finale Hurdle third Arverne. He is one of eight youngsters bought recently by long-standing owner Andy Stewart, who has reinvested heavily after a couple of quiet seasons.

One of Stewart’s unnamed babies will have the honour of being named Onethreefivenotout, thanks to some quick thinking by Nicholls, who registered the name immediately after Ben Stokes’ heroics at Headingley last weekend.

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