Last weeks French selections on this blog returned a profit. Alright, it was a profit of £0.76 to £1 stake, but a mentor once told me if you're breaking even at this game you're doing better than 97% of the Racing public so it's a fair start. We start a new week with a trip to the south, more specifically the turf track at Marseille-Borely.
This is an 8-race card and although the handicaps at the end of the morning don't make too much appeal, there are some intriguing maidens and conditions races that do offer a bit more interest, especially at the early prices offered. Here are my notes and a couple of selections that stood out as too big to ignore.
R1 – Olympe Mancini opened as Fav. Highest rated at 37. Stumbled start last week in C2, kept on without landing a blow. Better horse than most of these but hardly an improving type. Princesse Saphir won maiden here, landed claimer at Lyon Parilly last time with sustained run. Front 2 clear and the 2nd, Kaleocreek, won at Compiegne on Friday. Wrong at the weights but a winner.
Belle de Saba and Houbi both beaten in Claimers already, big ask on these terms.
Middle Kick has won her last 2. Made all to win on the PSF at Marseille Vivaux. Probably pace angle from stall 3. Over Chope 0-5. Beaten 5-lengths at Salon-de-Provence last time. Better suited by this trip but unlikely.
Opened 11/8 OM and 6/4 PS. No value there.
R2 – 3 Newcomers. Mqse de Pompadour makes most appeal of the 3 but looks like she might be a better 3YO prospect, for all that she has been supplemented for this maiden. Hayssouvie a Johnny Barnes half-sister to 6-winners.
Wikenda led for 99% of the race at Salon-de-Provence. Sets a fair standard. Sokna and Facinatrice closely matched, but much more encouragement from Sokna (7th). Dropped in from wide draw. Educational ride, kept on nicely under hands ride, beaten 5-lengths. 18/1 SP. Barzalona replaces Marie Velon.
Bet Placed – Wikenda should win but at 4/9? Too short (I had 6/4 on tissue price). Taken EW on SOKNA at 11/2.
R3 – Both newcomers are half-brothers to multiple winners. Market worth watching, especially with Treize. Fair standard to achieve and making October debuts, but not impossible on paper.
Decidement 5th here on debut. Held up, came wide off the bend, hampered when leader unseated rider, keeping on. Fair form. Paradise Storm 5th at Salon-de-Provence (Wikenda 2nd R2). Roi de Baviere 3rd in Decidement race. Had 3 goes in maidens.
Lovers Day improving, 3rd last week keeping on from the rear. On form lines with winner (Lord of War), should hold the likes of Decidement and Paradise Storm.
Compared form to Gilded Dragon. 2 runs, 4th at Compiegne last time out, hampered a little but still on/off the bridle. Winner is rated 46 now, placed horses 38, so sets a standard but does this track suit? Risky bet, better when on the PSF perhaps.
R4 – Trappy C2 race. 4-kilos between the 5 with a rating. Suspect that Giraffe needs a bigger field than this. Cusano had been running in Listed and Group races in Italy. 4th in a strong Salon-de-Provence maiden last time but didn’t see it out.
Very little between Belafonte, Santhia and Giraffe on their C2 run last time. Santhia has won 4 of 16 but wins in handicaps and on PSF. Surprised she has opened as Fav.
Grimaud ran in good maidens in the Spring (4-length 4th to Zarakem here the best run). Returned from break to win La Teste handicap last time. Entitled to win it but bolted up. Seguy returns to ride this time.
What to make of Firebrand? 1 run when 4th in maiden here last month, 8/1 beaten 2-lengths, 3rd and 5th both won since. Educational ride, kept on from mid-division.
Bet Placed - Worried about Firebrand as an improver but wanted to take on Santhia so played Grimaud at 9/4. *If strong support for Firebrand (opened 9s) would be worth a saver.
R5 – Feature race.
Struggled to find an angle here. Indian Pacific has a good record here with a couple of wins, but those came in claiming races. Found out at this level in the past.
Bosioh highest rated (44). 7th but not beaten far in a much better race than this at Saint-Cloud. Not much between him and Saint Hellier, won a C1 here in June. Ran well in Quinte handicaps in the North.
Alcaraz opened Fav presumably because he is with Rouget? Claimer booked to ride. Won a good race at Chateaubriant, but this is much deeper and 7/4 looked short enough for me. Laos waiting for Cagnes I would think. Lighted Glory and Alzir unlikely.
No bet race at opening prices.
R6-R8 – 3 Handicaps and couldn’t find much of an angle so leaving those today.