Quite a tricky punting card at Fontainebleau today, but I think Chef d’Orchestre is overpriced in the concluding handicap.
He was badly handicapped as a two year old after winning what turned out to be a weak Saint-Cloud maiden for Stephane Wattel, reappearing after a year off with some quiet efforts last summer. However, he finished his time with that yard with a couple of seconds in competitive enough claimers over this trip on soft ground (which he gets today), his second at Deauville last October to recent (admittedly much-improved) Quinte winner Be Ahead reading very well in the context of today’s race.
Stepped up in trip for his first couple of starts for Ludovic Rovisse, he then finished down the field in two starts over this CD, on both occasions ridden by an apprentice who is 1-82 in the past couple of seasons.
Hugo Besnier was back on board in a claimer last time and he ran an excellent race in defeat, finishing a close second to one that was recording a hat-trick, with four lengths back to the third.
Top weight in what looks a weak second division of today’s sprint handicap, he has conditions in his favour, a decent draw (given today’s ground) and should make a bold bid to go one better than last time.
4.20pm Fontainebleau – 1pt each-way Chef d’Orchestre @ 9-1 (Betfred, Unibet, Betway, 17/2 all other firms)
