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A quartet at double-figure prices at Pau today, starting with Hitech in the Quinte.
I put him up at Auteuil in October, where he failed to shine, but there were plenty of positives to take from his recent return to Pau, finishing fourth behind Bandero and Black Boa (both re-opposing here). He had impressed when scoring here last December before taking a heavy fall when in the lead in the Listed Prix Bernard de Dufau on his next outing.
That latest effort suggests he could be on his way back and if he can build on it, the mark of 59 is well within his compass.
12.55pm Pau – 1pt win Hitech @ 10-1 (all firms, 11-1 with Bet365)
Idee Rochelaise is an interesting contender in the cross-country. Patrice Quinton has few peers in this discipline and this one really looked to take to it on her first start at Pau three weeks ago, jumping really well prior to a small mistake. Her jockey lost his irons and had to pull up, but she was an eye-catcher.
Her dam was seriously talented in this sphere, twice winning at Listed level, and is from a wonderful chasing family that the trainer knows so well. The newly-freelance Clement Lefebvre (recently split from Gaby Leenders) is booked to ride and Idee Rochelaise makes some appeal at 20-1+.
2.40pm Pau – 1pt win Idee Rochelaise @ 20-1 (most firms, 22-1 in places)
It often pays to follow Anne-Sophie Pacault at Pau (11-58 since the beginning of 2020) and it’s worth backing Vandrimar to atone for a fall at the course last time.
He had gone clear in the back straight (albeit five out, so a long way from home) when making a mistake and falling, but had shown enough to suggest there are races to be won with him and his trainer has found a weak-looking contest for him here.
3.50pm Pau – 1pt win Vandrimar @ 12-1 (all firms, 14-1 with Bet365)
Not much has gone right for Histoire De France since dotting up in the Prix Geographie (run at Compiegne in 2020 due to Covid restrictions at Auteuil) a couple of years ago, but she ran perfectly well enough in a couple of handicap chases at Auteuil in 2021 off a mark of 56.5 and is dangerously well-handicapped off her current mark of 53.
She had two runs back in October, pulling up on the second occasion at Fontainebleau (looked to be something amiss), but she was going well enough when the race was abandoned at Craon three weeks ago and it’s good to see Lucas Zuliani on board. We’re taking a bit of a leap of faith, but this is very winnable and the 25-1 on offer is too big.
1pt each-way Histoire De France @ 25-1 (Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair, 22-1 all other firms)
