'He should go close' - weekend form boost points to French follow-up

2.35 Wetherby
Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap Hurdle | 2m3½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Much of the focus in this interesting event concerns the lightly raced French Paradoxe.

The six-year-old graduates to handicaps off a mark of 122 after flooring 4-9 favourite Flash Collonges at Newbury, and that form received a timely boost when the runner-up recorded a comfortable Wincanton success on Saturday.

Flash Collonges thrashed the 133-rated Malinello by eight and a half lengths at the Somerset track, and a literal interpretation suggests French Paradoxe may have got in lightly.

He is likely to prove very popular in the market, a comment which could also apply to Sakhee’s City at much bigger odds now that he returns to Wetherby.

The four-time hurdles scorer clearly didn’t enjoy his first visit to Leicester last month when beaten out of sight in a seller, and will be much happier back at Wetherby where he has won once and been placed five times.

He finished a most creditable second in this race last year when eight lengths behind West To The Bridge off a mark of 133.

Sakhee’s City competes off 10lb lower this time – his lowest mark since November 2016 – and it would be no surprise to witness a revival at a rewarding price.

West To The Bridge’s trainer Dan Skelton has another strong contender this year in confirmed mud-lover Shannon Bridge, who is fairly handicapped on his best form and equipped with the tongue tie and blinkers combination for the first time.

Phil Kirby: runs course-and-distance winner Sakhee's CityCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sakhee’s City may be the only course winner in the field, but topweight Miah Grace has run three excellent races in defeat at the West Yorkshire venue.

The mare was sent off favourite for a better-class handicap at Cheltenham last time won by The White Mouse, but failed to give her running.

If bouncing back from that disappointment she would hold every chance off a 1lb lower mark.

Pop The Cork has been raised 4lb for a length and a quarter Uttoxeter defeat by Courtland over 2m last time.

The step up in trip is a move well worth exploring and, if he improves for it, he ought to be highly competitive at the finish.

Elysian Flame ran well for a long way when third to Bear Ghylls at Exeter on Sunday, and would enter calculations if turned out again.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What they say

Jedd O'Keeffe, trainer of Miah Grace
We're hoping she runs better than she did at Cheltenham last time but many of ours weren't firing then and we don't know why. We're going back to what she has enjoyed previously which is this trip and track. If she was placed we'd be delighted and ecstatic if she won.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Shannon Bridge
He's not been shining over fences so we're sending him back over hurdles over which he has done well previously. He looks well at home and has blinkers on which hopefully can spark a revival.

Rob Summers, trainer of Some Buckle
He was a nice horse back in the day and this will tell us if he's still up for it or not. He was pulled up in a point-to-point last time so has a bit to prove but he's been going well at home. This trip would be his minimum.

Jonjo O'Neill: feels Pop The Cork has a sporting each-way chance at WetherbyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Pop The Cork
He's been knocking on the door lately and goes there with a sporting each-way chance in an open looking race.

Oliver Signy, trainer of French Paradoxe
The form of his win at Newbury last time got a big boost when the second Flash Collonges won at Wincanton last weekend. He's back at Wetherby where he ran well first time out over hurdles and soft ground is in his favour. The race has cut up a bit so he should go close.

Micky Hammond, trainer of Kayf Adventure
He was formerly with Philip Hobbs but didn't jump very well on his first start for us at Aintree so we sent him back over hurdles at Wetherby over Christmas and he ran really well to finish fifth. Billy Garritty rode him that day but he's banned so we've gone for rising star Kevin Brogan, who I've seen ride well on TV.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app