Flat bar gravel bike / 90s XC bike options

My current cycle to work purchase is about to have its last payment taken so obviously I need a new bike.
Want some options please for something like an On One whippet type of thing.
XCish geometry, more sit up and beg/comfy not head down arse up nor not long /slack
£1500 tops
Flat / riser Bar
1x
Hydraulic brakes
29er with room for max 2.5 tyre but more likely 2.0ish and full guards and lots of mud.
Rigid or short travel fork
Doesn’t need dropper
Preferably metal frame
Rack/ mudguard mount a bonus (currently use speedrockers which are fine)
Basically a cheap XC bike, available to buy.
Currently using a NS Bikes RAG+ and don’t want to have toe overlap or silly bars any more.

Yes, £250 over budget but lovely frame makes up for it: https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-broken-road-sx-eagle

I’ve got Planet X’s take on that (a Titus Mutsu) but no longer available- I guess it would be cheaper than the above if it was. Flat barred, rigid carbon fork, full length guards with 700×50 CX-style tyres, 1×11, MTB drivetrain and hydraulics. My inability to tolerate toe overlap and drop bars led me to this.

Edit – sorry, forgot their full builds are 650b only so would be extra outlay and faff for 700c/29 wheelset and tyres.

How about a Rockrider XC100?

Boost spacing, Deore 11 speed drivetrain, decent geometry, two water bottle mounts, comes tubeless ready with decent tyres, quality Manitou Markhor fork, lifetime frame guarantee and it comes in at 1p under £1,000. The only thing on your list that this bike lacks appears to be lacking is the rack mount.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/29-hardtail-mountain-bike-xc-100-shimano-deore-1×11/_/R-p-330066?mc=8616937

Surely a Rocky Road fits the bill.

Will be on Cyclesolutions so think that rules out Decathlon (?) and it looks like planet X use a different scheme.

Sonder frontier

Superfly, or whatever Trek call their XC 29er hardtail now.

My Superfly convinced me of the merits of 29ers, and shortly after gave me the perfect intro into gravel when I stuck some 40mm slicks on and did some big mixed tarmac and gravel routes.

In winter I’ve stuck some MTB treads on it and headed out for some tight and technical singletrack, at which it also appears to excel (or at least be very fun at).

Only box it doesn’t tick is your rack and mudguard mounts, and possibly the 2.5″ tyres…

Sonder Dial as reviewed in latest singletrack?

sonder dial

Looks perfect but no 2.5 tyres. Lots of build options and cycle to work. Just ignore the aggro gravel bit…

As 13thfloormonk I put my gravel bike wheels and tyres on my steel hardtail. Turned it into a rocket! That was with 35mm gravel king ac’s.

Edit – may be a bit too much xc race

Ribble have some

Probably would never put 2.5 tyres on it but would like the clearance.

‘aggro-gravel bike’ is a niche worth knowing about.