Can Mondo Man break duck over hurdles or will Lulamba form come unstuck? Adonis to serve up key Triumph clues

Gary Moore: would run Editeur Du Gite at Cheltenham on Saturday if the rearranged Clarence House Chase was reopened

Gary Moore and son Josh train Mondo Man, the favourite for the Adonis

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You won’t see many horses pull like Mondo Man did on his hurdles bow at Ascot last month and still make the places. Even fewer would be able to run the Triumph Hurdle favourite to three and a half lengths, so either he has a huge engine or Lulamba isn’t as good as we think.

That idea seems ludicrous right now and it’s more likely that Mondo Man might be something special himself. Let’s not forget that he finished fifth in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.

So can he transfer that Flat form to hurdling and break his duck in this Grade 2? If Lulamba is all that he’s cracked up to be then Mondo Man need only reproduce his debut Ascot form to do so and this speed track should suit him better. Kempton is home to a much flatter finish.

Nevertheless, he is likely to be an odds-on favourite and it will be a brave person to take such short odds for one who pulls so hard. He could easily throw away his chance being too keen.

That scenario would leave the door open for the others and Opec is clear second best on form. She recorded the highest Topspeed figure in the race when winning at Newbury in November, but was beaten 23 lengths behind Nietzsche Has in a Grade 2 at Chepstow over Christmas.

It’s fair to assume that the James Owen-trained Opec isn’t as good as her stablemate East India Dock and a win for Opec would serve only to further East India Dock’s Triumph claims.

It’s 14 years since Zarkandar won this and the Cheltenham feature, and it will be a surprise if the Triumph winner runs this year. However, Zarkandar’s trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race four times since and Sauvignon is his only runner this year. That could be a tip in itself.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Sauvignon
I don't to this day know why he ran the way he did at Cheltenham. Harry [Cobden, jockey] said he was travelling well and then just stopped. It could be that he's a typical French horse. The races over there are run steadier and then they quicken up. Whether the good gallop from the start found him out last time, I don't know. I'm hoping a flat track will bring out some improvement in him.

Toby Lawes, trainer of St Pancras
He’s always looked like he would be a nice horse and he improved plenty in terms of fitness and experience from his first to second race. He enjoyed the better ground at Musselburgh and he should like that again. When Lulamba wasn’t declared it opened this race up and he’s going to give it his best, for all that he’s not the finished article yet.

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Mondo Man
It was a satisfactory first run and hopefully he can settle better this time around. If he does, that gives him a chance and he'll be in a position to go well in this.

James Owen, trainer of Opec
She’s the winner of three of her five starts over hurdles, for all that she was disappointing at Chepstow last time. She’s had a nice break since and is training well, so we’re looking forward to getting her back on the track. I think the course and ground will really suit her.
Reporting by Pete Scargill

Saturday previews:

1.50 Kempton: Paul Nicholls dominates the Pendil - is Rubaud the right candidate to follow Frodon, Cyrname and Pic D'Orhy?

2.10 Newcastle: Can anyone stop 'relentless' O'Connell from sealing a four-timer in the Eider Chase?

2.25 Kempton: Can Mondo Man break duck over hurdles or will Lulamba form come unstuck? Adonis to serve up key Triumph clues

3.15 Southwell: Can Royal Champion display his Group 1 credentials in another strong version of the Winter Derby?

3.25 Fairyhouse: The final step on the road to Aintree for Grand National big guns in phenomenal renewal of the Bobbyjo Chase

3.35 Kempton: 'He's very much on the upgrade and less exposed than a lot of the others' - key insight for the Ladbrokes Trophy