A tricky card for the first meeting of the year at La Teste de Buch.  We’ll head to the final race on the card for today’s bet, with Jacky looking a big price to make a winning handicap debut.

His maiden form, both on his sole start at two for Pascal Bary (splitting subsequent black-type performers Fenelon and Pretty Tiger) and from last summer for Fabrice Chappet, is better than a mark of 31 and the eighth at Chantilly in October on his final start for that yard was an eye-catching effort.

I thought he ran well enough on his debut for Christophe Ferland, when upped markedly in trip.  He travelled nicely and though it wasn’t the extra distance that beat him, I’m pleased to see him dropped back. That conditions race was a stronger contest than this, he has cheekpieces on for the first time for this handicap debut and at 20-1, he is worth chancing.

2.57pm La Teste de Buch – 1pt win, 0.5t place Jacky @ 20-1 4 places (5 places with Skybet)