An interesting early card at Le Lion d’Angers this morning and there are a couple at prices worth backing, starting with Hun Ange Vint in the claiming hurdle (11.00am).
Erwan Grall’s representative won on this sort of ground in a minor conditions hurdle in June, the form of which would be more than good enough to win this, and he ran really well when fourth in a much stronger race than this at Vichy at the beginning of August.
He wasn’t at that level back on the flat last time, but he looks suited by better ground and conditions today should play to his strengths. He drops into claiming company for the first time today and the conditional jockey has ridden a couple of winners for the yard in this grade in 2021 from limited opportunities.
11.00am Le Lion d’Angers – 1pt win Hun Ange Vint @ 8-1 (all firms)
The 2m2.5f handicap hurdle (11.30am) looks a weak contest and at the prices, it is well worth supporting Gilou Cat on his debut for Adrien Fouassier.
He signed off on a quiet note for the small yard of Fabien Dehez and has only been with his new yard for the past three weeks, but his form over fences earlier this summer would give him a huge chance here (he finished second in a competitive level-weights chase around Compiegne in June) and his close sixth in a €70K Auteuil handicap hurdle last November off 13lbs higher shows how dangerously well-handicapped he has become.
He may well come on for this first run for his shrewd new connections, but the booking of Charly Prichard is a notable one. 32-105 this year (which is an astonishing strike-rate, for all that she has been riding for the Lageneste/Macaire team), Gilou Cat is her only ride of the day and for a yard for whom she has been successful on all three rides this year.
11.30am Le Lion d’Angers – 1pt win Gilou Cat @ 12-1 (all firms)
