Some interesting conditions contests at Cagnes today, including the return of two exciting Shadwell representatives in Zawaaya (who was tipped on this column when scoring at Deauville in October) and Shafaaf.
Another classy performer making his reappearance is Bobbymurphy, but having been off for 11 months and making his debut for a yard that is struggling for form, it may well pay to take him on today and I’m backing Catch Up Effect against him.
Ed Monfort’s four year old son of Oasis Dream had run two nice races in defeat back from 17 months on the sidelines (he had one run at two for Ralph Beckett) before bolting up in a maiden at Pornichet last time.
Though the bare form is nothing special, he easily pulled clear of a next-time-out winner and very much looks to be going the right way. Out of a Galileo half-sister to Listed winners Moohaarib (by Oasis Dream) and Trethias, he has both the pedigree and physical scope to suggest there could be more to come this year and the booking of Theo Bachelot (who has ridden a couple of nice winners for the in-form Monfort in the past fortnight) is another plus.
Bobbymurphy looked a high-class prospect when winning three on the AW at around this time last year, but his subsequent absence is an obvious concern, while Christophe Escuder is just 2-80 since the turn of the year.
1.07pm Cagnes – 2pts win, 1pt place Catch Up Effect @ 4-1
