Our first bet of the day is at Pau, where I think Rio Del Jack is a really interesting contender in the 1m2f handicap (1.07pm).
He was a triple winner at around this trip for Yann Barberot in late 2019/2020, the latest of them coming at Compiegne last June, when officially rated 40 (UK88).
Claimed for €30,000, he failed to shine in five starts for Julien Phelippon, but still ran with credit in handicap company off marks in the high 30s.
The wheels have really come off this year, but for the yard of Benjamin Legros, which is consistently operating at around a 4% strike-rate, and he did finish second at ParisLongchamp in May off 30, which is a stone higher than his current mark.
He was claimed after finishing second in a minor claimer in the provinces in September, but has joined a yard that is 3-15 in France this year. While regressive for his former trainer, he has shown this year that he retains the ability to figure off this mark and the yard switch is a considerable plus, one that suggests his price is a little too big this morning.
1.07pm Pau – 1pt win Rio De Jack @ 20-1 (most firms)
Later on the card, I fancy Holympica to go one better on than on her first start at Pau at the end of last month.
She steps up in trip to tackle the 1m4f handicap (1.41pm) and I thought she shaped as though that would suit when runner-up over 1m2f here last time.
A maiden winner earlier this season, her form looked to have plateaued before her latest run, but that effort suggested she is still going forwards and she certainly has a pedigree to suggest she can rate higher than her current mark of 32. She is a half-sister to three multiple winners, all fillies, including two black-type performers, and two of them successful on the All-Weather.
Simone Brogi has been in fine form of late, with 6 winners from his last 17 runners, so Holympica looks set to run a big race.
1.41pm Pau – 1pt win Holympica @ 4-1 (most firms)
