French Racing Tips – 14/06

Bettors can be forgiven for concentrating more on Royal Ascot today than a moderate card at Compiegne, though in Race Three I am keen to oppose Francis Graffard’s 4-race maiden Caraghann at a short price and have landed on a selection.

Connections have played around with Caraghann’s trip and he doesn’t seem the most resolute. His rating of 38.5kg makes him a player in this but I think he has limited ability and it might also be concerning that despite coming from an excellent staying family, he doesn’t finish strongly.

Anctot is a player at 9-1 but this will be stronger than his two provincial maidens taken in to date.

German raider Una Nova was sent off single figures for a Saint-Cloud maiden last month. She broke well and tracked the pace, suggesting that the drop today to 10 furlongs will be fine. Moreover, she was unlucky to get stuck on the rail at the top of the home straight behind a fading 30-1 outsider and had to begin her challenge all over again. Una Nova is a solid each-way selection and can be included in exotics, but she could be vulnerable again to something with a better pedigree.

Final Gesture ran green on her French debut and Godolphin’s daughter of Secret Gesture looks another tempting each-way bet. On a line through Tres Queen she ought to be on her way to a rating between 37.0 and 38.0, which makes her competitive, but like many of Godolphin’s UK castoffs, she could reach her ceiling quite quickly despite the flashy page.

Rain would appear to many in the racecards as a second string Godolphin runner, hence her odds of 15/2. The 210,000 guineas yearling is related to plenty of winners and finished upsides Una Nova last time. Apprentice jockey Adrian Le Lay keeps the ride and I’m really drawn to his 7lb claim given he’s worked at Andre Fabre’s for two years and has ridden eight schooling race winners, including the likes of True Testament and Magny Cours (most are available on Youtube to view). He looks to have a good pair of hands to me and this duo had a good introduction to the PMU circuit last time at a Parisian track.

Rain’s eye-catching 4th is backed up by good sectionals and by the fact she covered more ground than Una Nova. She looks the type to improve from this and I’m keen to latch on well before Le Lay becomes established.

12.05pm Compiegne – 1.5pts each-way Rain @ 7-1 (most firms or 15/2 with Coral and Ladbrokes)

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