If you want a bike you can pedal uphill, blast the downs and take it down the odd DH course then the Giant Reign X1 has the personal woodywoodbine seal of approval.
09 is about £2k I think. Had mine nearly two years now and its been battered all over from living in Vancouver and riding the North Shore most weekends for 6 months, 6 weeks non stop riding in Whistler, a week in the Alps, hiking up and blasting down Ben Lomond, trail centres all over the country and it’s just served me well at the Kielder Enduro last weekend. Not tried too many others but for me, it does it all. Fairly slack angles and a bottomless feel in the suspension but minimal bob unless you’re mashing out of the saddle in the granny so you can comfortably pootle up to the top of the next run.