Quite a trappy card at La Teste this afternoon, but I think there is a fair bit more to come from OK Boomer and she is worth backing in the 1m1f handicap (3.22pm).
The daughter of Slade Power won a good-ground claimer over this trip at Fontainebleau in April on her final start for Fabrice Chappet, after which she was claimed for €26,500.
Chappet had endured a tough start to the season and after a quiet start for this yard at the beginning of May, OK Boomer bounced back to form with a comfortable success on good ground at Bordeaux, travelling powerfully and picking up well when asked.
She held a class 1 entry at the end of June, which suggests her astute trainer feels she is capable of better than this mark of 35.5, and though she must have had a little niggle that has meant she hasn’t run since that Bordeaux win, she returns with her yard in excellent nick, with nine of their last 12 runners finishing in the first two.
Though the ground hasn’t been announced yet, I would imagine it has dried out considerably from the soft ground a couple of days ago, which would suit, and hopefully she can return from her midsummer break with a win.
3.22pm La Teste de Buch – 1pt win OK Boomer @ 4-1 (all firms)
She may have a bit to find at the weights, but the ground has come right for Sarati and she looks a big price to return to winning ways at Clairefontaine this afternoon (1.20pm).
The five year old was a ready winner of a course and distance handicap off a mark of 30 last July and she ran perfectly well off 33 in a deeper race on softer ground than ideal next time.
Soft ground has been an issue since, with her final two runs of 2020 and three of her first four runs this year coming on very soft ground – the exception, her sole start on good, saw her finish a very creditable fifth at Compiegne, despite not getting the clearest of runs.
She was given a quiet ride over 1900m at Argentan last time, but that should put her spot on for this and the 2200m/good ground here is ideal.
Nicolas Paysan places his horses well and his record in claimers across both codes in the last three months reads 131P126.
1.20pm Clairefontaine – 1pt win Sarati @ 16-1 (all firms)
The race in which Flawless Lady finished a close third over course and distance looked to have more strength in depth than today’s claimer (2.30pm) and she is another worth supporting at double-figure odds.
Her form has a slightly patchy look to it, but she won a 17-runner handicap at Saint-Cloud in April (the form of which worked out well enough) and after a couple of quiet runs, she looked back in form here last time, battling on well having hit the front early enough.
The top two in the market look vulnerable and with form chance Got Frost giving away plenty of weight, Flawless Lady may be able to take advantage.
2.30pm Clairefontaine – 1pt win Flawless Lady @ 10-1 (all firms)
