It was good to see yesterday’s 25-1 handicap selection Sehmara stay on into third to reward the each-way money, and I’ve gone for another big-priced runner in a handicap at Chantilly today (3.10pm).

Bunook may be a 13 year old now, but there is still life in the old legs and he won at Fontainebleau last May under a fine front-running ride from the excellent Theo Bachelot.  He won well that day off a mark of 26.5, but has run below that form since.  However, he did finish fourth in a claiming handicap in late January, and he ran better than the result suggests last time, finishing with running left over an inadequate 2500m, having met trouble in running.

Today’s extra furlong is a positive, as is the return of Bachelot, who is on board for the first time since Fontainebleau last May.  He has only been on board for six of Bunook’s 105 career runs, but has three wins (dating back to 2013!) and a third, so the booking looks significant.  The switch to blinkers and a fair draw might also suggest connections might return to the front-running tactics that saw him win last year.

3.10pm Chantilly – 1pt win, 0.5pt place Bunook @ 20-1 4 places (most firms, 5 places with Boylesports and Skybet)