Race 2 at Dieppe is a three-year-old maiden over the sprint course where it pays to be drawn high.
Augustin Madamet travels to Normandy just to ride Bolchoi, who is priced at 6/4 for this contest, rated 38.0. He’s been off the track for a couple of months, finished down the field in warmer company last time out and doesn’t have a great draw in 1.
The well-bred Sparkle On is rated at the chief danger at 11/4 but is a 7-race maiden drawn in 3. I’ll pass.
The next two in the betting both look to hold chances. Graffard’s Siyouangel should be thereabouts and was my initial fancy at 4-1. Drawn well in 8, she was beaten at odds of 9/4 last time in a similar contest. There are mixed signals about the yard form and although a jockey change could see her ridden more aggressively, she has a tendency to break slowly – in which case she could find herself in a bit of trouble just to run on for a place.
Dream Love is making his fourth career start at this course. Unfancied at 10-1 for his return to action here last month after almost 10 months off the track and a gelding operation, a three-length defeat would have pleased connections. Edouard Monfort reports him to have come on for that run in the Paris Turf and the yard is really firing now with four winners from nine runners this month.
A bit of ease in the ground should suit this son of Dream Ahead and a career best could be enough to win this at 15/2.
1.15pm Dieppe – Dream Love 1pt each-way @ 15/2 (William Hill, Coral, Bet Victor, Betfred, Pari Match etc. or 7-1 generally)