The cross country (11.05am) at Pau is far from the strongest of races and favourite Jocrack A La Motte looks worth supporting at the 15/8 on offer.

The seven year old mare, who was a fair performer over hurdles/fences earlier in her career, looks to have improved for the switch to cross country, with her form in six starts to date in this sphere reading 3F1211.  She may not have had a great deal to beat last time, but she couldn’t have done it any easier and that came in heavy ground and over a longer distance than this, so we don’t have any stamina/ground concerns today.

Her second here in December 2020 came behind Netcam, who would lap today’s opposition (with the exception of Parc Monceau, but he has had just one start in the past 28 months), and the close third last January was also in a considerably stronger affair.

Trainer William Menuet had the most successful year of his training career to date in 2021, with 32 winners at a 15% strike-rate, and hopefully Jocrack A La Motte can get him off the mark with his first runner of 2022.

11.05am Pau – 2pts win Jocrack A La Motte @ 15/8 (all firms)