The first two year old race of the season in France takes place at Marseille Borely today (10.50am) and I can’t resist backing Kaleocreek to make a winning start.

Trainer Christophe Escuder produced the winner of this race a year ago, with subsequent Listed winner Hayejohn (who has some part-owners in common with Kaleocreek).  He was a little unfortunate not to win his first four starts, so it is obviously encouraging that his trainer has targeted Kaleocreek at this.

Sire Bow Creek certainly gets his fair share of winners (including smart performers Breizh Eagle and Got Socks) and this second foal of a 6/7f winner is from the family of winning machines Bayoun and Bamiyan.

His trainer has given him a positive mention in the lead-up to this and he is worth a small bet, despite the price having been nibbled at as soon as it opened!

10.50am Marseille – 1pt win Kaleocreek @ 3-1 (all firms)

Later on the card, Viriatus looks a really interesting recruit for the excellent Jerome Reynier and is worth backing to make a successful start in the 1m maiden (11.50am) at his local track.

The son of Sioux Nation fetched €87,000 as a yearling and made a really promising start in a maiden at Chantilly in November on his sole outing to date, when in the care of Romain Le Dren Doleuze.  He quickened nicely in the straight that day and though ultimately no match for the winner, it was a highly-promising start.  The third was runner-up next time, while the fourth won on his next outing and the fifth has won twice, with both receiving big-race entries.

This doesn’t look much of a race, with the exception of the Rouget representative Edala.  However, she has had four chances and doesn’t look to be progressing.

11.50am Marseille – 1pt win Viriatus @ 2-1 (all firms)

Elsewhere on the card, Blas is the obvious one in the 1m2f handicap (1.07pm), but he is priced accordingly and I was tempted to take a chance on Andfield Park against him.

Sebastien Culin’s representative bolted up in a weak race on good ground on debut at Divonne last September before finishing sixth in Listed company at Lyon next time.  That shows how highly he is regarded, and he had a poor trip that day, racing wide throughout and getting hampered in the straight. 

He shaped as though badly in need of the run on reappearance at Cagnes a month ago, when finishing last in the Prix de Porquerolles, but there should be plenty of improvement to come, and he has the physical scope to progress well this year. 

However, the 7/2 on offer doesn’t represent a great deal of value, so I’ll just be watching today.