A good card at Pau gets underway this morning and we have a bet in the first (10.35am), with Indiana Conti a fair price to get off the mark at the fourth time of asking.
She has looked a work in progress in three runs to date, probably making her move a little early when fourth at Nantes, and then just missing out under a waiting ride at Fontainebleau last time.
The bare form will need improving upon, but she does look to be going the right way and doesn’t have much to find. Gaby Leenders has his team in excellent nick, which is another positive.
10.35am Pau – 1pt win Indiana Conti @ 4-1 (all firms)
Though he has a bit to find at the weights, I think there is enough in the price to take a chance on Fret D’Estruval in the 2m4f class 1 chase (11.35am).
Favourite Autorisation is a classy performer and is very much respected, but he only just got the better of our selection here a year ago and is now 3kg worse off. Fret D’Estruval goes really well on heavy ground (and it will be bottomless today) and though this dual Auteuil winner is yet to score around here, he has placed on three of his five outings at the course and the run against Autorisation last December was strong form.
Brought down on his return from four months off at Auteuil in November, he ran an eye-catching race to finish third at Compiegne last time, giving weight away all round, and that should have put him spot on for this.
Patrice Quinton has started the winter meeting here in great form, with three winners and four places from his 10 runners so far – hopefully Fret D’Estruval can continue the good run.
11.35am Pau – 1pt win Fret D’Estruval @ 8-1 (various)
