Novices have a decent record in this race and Willie Mullins has won this race in 2019 with Burrows Saint, who had a very similar profile to GAILLARD DU MESNIL. A Grade 1 winning Novice hurdler, he looks just the type to improve for this step up in trip and there are several stayers in his family who won over marathon trips in French Cross-Country races, so there is every reason to believe that he will stay. Although he hasn’t yet managed to win over fences, he has shaped nicely with each step up in trip and his 3rd placed finish behind L’Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor at Cheltenham, on his first start over 3-miles, was a career best as a chaser. That form took a boost at Aintree and although a mark of 154 is not a gift, he is the pick of Paul Townend and looks sure to run his race.
