Pierre Fertillet’s powerful Cagnes team haven’t yet kicked into gear, but that could well happen today, with some good chances amongst his 12 runners, and My Lovely Passion makes a fair bit of appeal now reverted to the smaller obstacles in the opening claiming hurdle (11.30am).
His record over hurdles reads 2321, that success coming by a wide margin at this level at Vitre in October on similarly soft ground. Outclassed over fences on his next outing, he has been kept fresh with this race in mind and it looks a winnable affair.
I’ll be keeping an eye on Micmac in the same race – he was pretty limited on the flat, with a third in claiming company at Divonne in September his best effort. However, he showed a bit of ability in what wasn’t a bad claiming hurdle for the provinces at Nimes late last month, going in off top claiming tag and giving weight away, and I thought he ran well in a conditions event here last time.
11.30am Cagnes – 1pt win My Lovely Passion @ 9/2 (all firms)
The final race on the card is a €56,000 handicap hurdle, with the top weight rated just 52 (and given how exposed he is, would probably get in a 0-105 in the UK).
It’s competitive enough and there are quite a few that can be given chances, with Gold And Fire, Intrinseque and Godomar, the last-named on his first start for Yannick Fouin, all making some appeal. However, at a big price I’m backing Falbala Le Dun.
Her career record of 1-18 over jumps is off-putting, but she showed a fair level of form here last year, finishing fourth in this race last year in blinkers off a 3.5kg higher mark, having pulled up at the course when without headgear in the Prix de Belvedere 10 days earlier.
That race has again been used as a prep (without headgear) this time around, and she also had the benefit of a spin at Nimes in November, so she comes here race fit. Cheekpieces go on today and I think the 25-1 on offer is attractive.
3.10pm Cagnes – 1pt win, 0.5pt place Falbala Le Dun @ 25-1 (various)
