I’m keen to take on the couple at the top of the market in the 1m7.5f claiming handicap and am backing two against them.

Sevillana won over 1m6f last year and finished runner-up over the same trip in a claimer at Compiegne in October to Nizami, who is a bit better than these. Runner-up in a handicap on her final start of 2021, I thought she ran a little better than the form suggests when fourth at Compiegne last time, getting outpaced before staying on late.

Ground conditions are ideal, this extra furlong looks sure to suit and she can build on that seasonal reappearance.

I’m also backing Vasy Sakhee, who is overpriced at 25-1.  She won over 1m7f at Longchamp in September off a mark of 27.5 (so only 1lb lower than today’s mark), and actually ran ok at Chantilly earlier this month on her return from six weeks off.

She wants decent ground, so today’s surface is in her favour, and though she hasn’t won here, she has run plenty of good races in defeat, reaching the frame on three of her last five starts here, including a clear second in a similar contest over this trip last July.

Romain Le Gal had a winner with his last runner at Chantilly on Wednesday and hopefully he can follow up here!

5.10pm Saint-Cloud – 1pt win Sevillana (11/2 all firms) and 1pt win Vasy Sakhee (25-1 all firms)