Andy Holding has two tips for today's racing at La Teste De Buch.
11:25 La Teste De Buch
Alpengeist shaped well in a decent maiden at Chantilly on his debut before the break and he probably sets the standard of those with experience. Looming up looking a big threat over a furlong out, the son of Make Believe didn’t quite manage to sustain his effort all the way to the line, but it still ranks as a fair performance in context with today’s race and he rates a banker bet for each-way thieves.
Ippling clearly bumped into an above-average type first time out in the shape of Uzak (won again since) and even though he was well beaten 104 days ago, it still has to go down as a fair starting point. Whether he has the scope of some of these remains to be seen, but either way, he rates a contender.
Hur Cat was sent off even money favourite in a maiden at Toulouse after two runner-up finishes to begin his career, so you would have to be disappointed with his overall performance in only managing fourth of the 10-strong field. Whether the soft ground had anything to do with his tame display only time will tell, but for now he’s one to be slightly cautious about until proven otherwise. Both Arrow Cat and Jonh For Always finished ahead of Hur Cat 80 days ago but at the same time, they don’t look anything special, while Brouillard and Exclusive Baio command the utmost respect being two newcomers housed in powerful stables.
11:55 La Teste De Buch
A wide-open maiden that could go the way of any of those who have already shown decent form in similar events and it could well be that the draw plays a significant role in the outcome. Usually, low numbers hold sway over this relatively tight, right-handed sprint course so that could make life difficult for Thread of Silver from gate 12. Having her first outing for new connections since Charlie Appleby in the UK, the daughter of Shamardal has enough useful form to her name to warrant the utmost respect, but confidence is dented somewhat courtesy of that tricky post position.
One who has fared better in the ballot is FREECHOPE (best price 9-2) and she has all the credentials to capture a race of this nature. Sent off a 16-1 outsider on her first attempt at Deauville back in February, the daughter of Kheleyf was soon defying her market position by towing the field along at a good pace and although she was ultimately reeled in by the eventual winner Healer, she left the impression she was the best horse in the race. Having led the field for nine tenths of the extended seven-furlong journey, today’s drop back in trip should suit and with a run style that should also complement the sharp nature of this course, the scopey filly rates a strong choice of those chalked up towards the top of the market.
Khara failed to justify 6-4 favouritism on her debut at Cagnes-Sur Mer in February, but she did still exhibit a fair amount of promise all the same. Posted out wide, she kept on nicely to finish on the heels of the main players and the sympathetic ride she that was afforded to her that day should reap benefits in the long run. Red Berries in the most experienced member of the party with three runs under her belt and she has each-way claims on the pick of her form. That said, stall 13 could have been better and whether she’s likely to find the level of improvement as some of her main market rivals is open to question. La Grenade is quite prominent in the market, but it will be interesting to see how she copes with dropping back a full half a mile having finished third on debut over 1m2f at Pau.
13:07 La Teste De Buch
By far and away the best race on the card in terms of quality and there are several who have already shown a fair level of form. Unsurprisingly, a horse trained by Jean-Claude Rouget finds itself towards the top of the market in a race of this nature and Serkiyna has the sort of progressive profile to justify favouritism. Promising in her first four starts, the daughter of Charm Spirit impressed with the way she quickened in the closing stages to seal the deal at Cagnes-Sur-Mer back in February and that victory was no more than she deserved. Equally effective on grass, the likeable grey looks sure to put up a bold bid for in-form connections.
Oftenwork is another to come into the equation based on his two runner-up efforts back in February and if anything, his latest offering just about sets the standard. Although firmly put in his place by Padron at Bordeaux 81 days ago, the winner went into the race on a roll and third has won since, so it would be a surprise if the Maxios colt wasn’t vying for top honours if running to a similar level.
Tamahere found the combination of 1m2f in listed company a bridge too far on the all-weather at Deauville last time out, but she should find more comfort among today’s line-up. Prior to that below-par effort 75 days ago, the daughter of Wootton Bassett had finished within hailing distance of the impressive recent Group 3 Longchamp winner, Pao Alto, and a repeat of that sort of form should see her somewhere on the scene.
Of the rest, Rosmana needs to leave behind a poor run on the all-weather at Pornichet before the break, while Look Of Victory was also disappointing when last seen and hails from a yard that hasn’t had too many trouble the judge since the restart.
13:42 La Teste De Buch
A wide-open and tricky handicap to solve, but there may be some mileage in siding with BLACK COMEDY (best price 7-1) who shaped better than his finishing position suggested at Longchamp on his seasonal comeback nine days ago. Well-backed into 9-2 second favouritism against a competitive and 18-strong field, the son of La Havre unfortunately for his supporters got posted out wide throughout most of the contest and that led to him giving away quite a bit of ground over the mile trip. The way he finished off his race, however, suggested he may have figured a little more prominently had he managed to get tucked in among the pack and from today’s much better draw (stall 3), there’s a decent chance the three-year-old colt will prove to be more competitive hailing from a stable that has had four winners since the restart.
Obviously there a whole host of potential threats, none more so than the three last-time-out winners, Romanovkha, Wedream and Benesse. Of the trio, the former has plenty of track experience to call on, so that fact has to be seen as a positive, while Wedream did extremely well to come from so far back to score at Bordeaux 81 days ago and has to be seen as a major consideration despite his wide draw.
