Our horse racing expert Andy Holding has previewed some of the races at Bordeaux De Bouscat today
16:35 Bordeaux Le Bouscat
A competitive-looking three-year-old contest on a painfully-weak card that brings together several progressive profiles to the party, and one of the main contenders based on last year’s exploits is Lauenen. A comfortable all-the-way winner of a maiden at Chantilly last September, Jean-Claude Rouget’s colt came back to action after a mini-break with a decent effort behind the improving Merry Picnic at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and a performance replicating either of those two runs would surely see him bang on the scene in a race of this nature providing he isn’t short of gallop or two after his 103-day break.
Sky Power has met Lauenen on two separate occasions and each time has come out second best, so looks to have a bit to find with one of the market leaders. Slightly disappointing on his seasonal return when only seventh of 11 at Longchamp, the Stormy River gelding was seen to better effect on an artificial surface towards the backend of last season and a performance of a similar standard would give him a squeak with fitness on his side.
Famiglia could only keep on at the one pace when fifth in a decent contest at Marseille on her return to the fray, but at least it went some way to suggest she will be some sort of force as a three-year-old. Not good enough for Group 3 company behind the top-class Tropbeau at Deauville last July, today’s examination should prove more suitable.
Elegua has been performing at lower level until now, so it remains to be seen whether she has the scope to up her game, while Elwin didn’t quite progress in the manner one might have hoped after scoring nicely at Mont De Marsan on her debut. Both Spirit Intime and Warzuzu have a bit to prove also following slightly below-par efforts on their return to action – albeit in better grade – while Levant should find this task easier than the one she faced in listed company at Craon when last seen almost a year ago.
17:15 Bordeaux De Bouscat
A disappointing turnout, but it’s an intriguing race all the same and it’s one in which Device should find well within range. Well-fancied to make a winning comeback at Auteuil recently after being away for the thick end of two years, the son of Poliglote never really gave his supporters too much hope of landing the punt and he eventually came home fifth behind stable companion, My Way. However, once his jockey realised he was fighting a losing battle, he was noticeably easy on his mount and it was significant to see the eight-year-old pick up really strongly from two out. Indeed, he went through the line with real encouragement for the future and with that all-important run under his belt, a more positive display should be forthcoming.
On the same two-day card at the Paris-based track, Fantasia Du Rock ran out a decisive winner of a competitive handicap hurdle and she has to be of significant interest while her wellbeing is in the ascendancy. Picking up the running with a circuit to race 13 days ago, the daughter of Kingsalsa kept up a strong gallop all the way to the line and judged by the market, that victory was very much expected. Although that win was achieved over hurdles and she’s yet to win in three previous starts over fences, there isn’t a great deal between the size in obstacles for each code over in France, so the switch back to chasing shouldn’t be taken as a huge negative.
Sainte Corneille was pulled up in a listed race last time out but had previously been going well, so is dangerous to dismiss. Added to which, the son of Saint Des Saints is better served by a quicker surface and he’s also gone well before after a break. Dieu Merci was runner-up at Toulouse last time out, but that form figure is a little bit misleading as he was beaten two fields and dike. Still yet to win in six starts, he needs to improve to be breaking his duck. Ecris L’Histoire was a winner this time last season at Auteuil so clearly the heady heights of summer provide the Kapgarde filly with the necessary pep in her step. She also ran well at Fontainebleau when last seen, so it would come as no surprise to her make some sort of concerted challenge.
18:15 Bordeaux De Bouscat
The betting suggested Saint Mano was the second string of the Guillaume Macaire runners in a juvenile hurdle on debut at Toulouse last week and that’s how it panned out with the son of Sri Putra ending up chasing home his stable mate Law Of Attraction. He did, however, offer up plenty of positives for the future with a more than satisfactory performance in a competitive affair and with the distinct likelihood of a good deal more to come with that initial experience under his belt, this race looks his for the taking.
Stable mate on this occasion, El Chiquito was a casualty on his opening bow at Vichy 12 days, but being as he was short as 5-2 in the betting, clearly a big run was expected had he managed to get around. Obviously, those who have some inside knowledge regarding the pairs’ respective ability will hold the upper hand in a situation such as this, so it goes without saying, the market is going to tell us all we need to know on that score.
Wantobewithyou is the only other with any recognised solid form and he comes from a yard that have enjoyed an extremely productive start to the campaign. Sent off 9-2 joint-favourite in a 15-strong field, the Anodin gelding could only find the one pace inside the final half a mile when fourth behind stable companion Magneto at Compiegne on the first day of the new campaign, but with the strong possibility of improvement to come, those who fancy the favourite have every right to fear him the most.
