1.20pm Chantilly

An exciting card at Chantilly today, featuring the return of Magny Cours (you can read more about him in our Godolphin France Stable Tour) and a couple of interesting newcomers’ contests as well.  However, our first bet goes in a competitive 6.5f class 1 sprint, in which Botch looks a little overpriced this morning.

The Christophe Ferland-trained four-year-old progressed with racing last year, building on an AW success over this trip at Cagnes last February with a class 2 win at Saint-Cloud in July.  He was last seen finishing a good second in Listed company at Deauville in August, after which the plan had been to go for a Group 3, but he had a niggle and connections decided to draw stumps for the season.

A powerfully-built individual, he has always been highly-regarded by his astute trainer and looks the type to improve again this year.  Though we are taking a chance on his fitness, the Ferland team has been in fine form of late (10-47 this year, 4-6 in the past fortnight) and at 6-1, that risk is more than factored into the price.

0.5pts each-way Botch @ 6-1 (Bet365, 11/2 with Boylesports, BetVictor, Betfred)