The opener at Les Sables is a weak maiden lacking any strength in depth.  At 4-1, the Daniela Mele-trained Ali Pacha has to be backed.

 

He was just touched off on his debut back in February by one that would have been odds-on in this and there was eight lengths back to the third.  He has since developed into a fair hurdler, finishing a close fourth at Le Lion d’Angers two starts back and then in midfield in a competitive handicap on Grand Steeple day.

 

His trainer is always a force to be reckoned with in these events and Leo-Paul Brechet, who sits in eighth in the jumps jockeys’ Championship, claims 2.5kg on the flat.

 

3.20pm Les Sables – 1.5pt each-way Ali Pacha @ 4-1 (most firms)

 

 

At Dieppe, both La Do Re (5.00pm) and La Templiere (5.35pm) make appeal in the concluding handicaps and are worth supporting at 7-1 and 18-1 respectively, though do shop around for the best each-way terms.