One bet on the card at Marseille Borely, Mazal Tov in the 6f handicap (3.52pm).
She finished second in a 7.5f AW claimer on her first start for this yard in March (having raced at 7-7.5f on all outings at two for Charley Rossi), and went one better on her next run over the same 7.5f trip in handicap company.
Up 2kg, I really liked her run at Salon Provence last time, dropped to 5.5f for the first time. She travelled well, had to wait briefly for a run, and was keeping on well at the line.
She remains unexposed at sprint trips and can return to winning ways today.
3.52pm Marseille Borely – 1pt win Mazal Tov @ 5-1 (various)
The going at Marseille has changed from soft (which was predicted to dry out to good to soft) to heavy! That’s potentially not ideal for our earlier tip on the card, but it will suit Mad Whip, who I had been keen on backing this morning if conditions were testing enough.
He won well over this course and distance in heavy ground in November, and ran a bit better than the result suggests when eighth here last time on his third start of the year, shaping as though he is running into form.
The softer conditions today are a big plus, the jockey booking is a positive for this yard, and he is overpriced at around 7-1.
4.27pm Marseille – 1.5pt win, 1pt place Mad Whip @ 7-1 (Various, inc Ladbrokes, Coral, Betvictor, 15/2 with WillHill)
I put up Field Of Glory (5.02pm) on debut at Salon Provence last month, but he totally missed the break and was always going to struggle from then on.
However, he showed a good level of ability in finishing fourth and there should be plenty of improvement forthcoming. He is stepping up from 1m2f to 1m5f, but his dam was a fairly useful dual winner at around this trip (as well as winning several times over shorter) and this one’s brother is a useful stayer for these connections, having landed a 1m7f Quinte at Chantilly on Tuesday.
He is probably priced correctly at around 3-1 this morning, but could well improve sufficiently to win.
