Followers of the French selections will have been nicely in profit after last weekend, with two of the three selections going in. Although in lockdown, racing still goes ahead over here and the Grade 2 Grand Steeple Chase de Compiegne is the feature of Sunday’s card.
Plenty of good quality races to get stuck into at Compiegne and I think there is huge value to be had throughout the afternoon so why not try a lucky 15?!
11:10 Staunton Street (NB)
A lovely little listed race to get the day going in the Paris suburbs and Staunton Street should be able to put his best foot forward and he makes the switch back to the smaller obstacles. This will be a drop in grade for the François Nicolle trained gelding, who last season took a Grade 3 at Auteuil and got quite close to wondermare l’Autonomie and the end of the season.
Even though he has top-weight in this contest I think that If he can put that fall from last time out behind him, Staunton Street will prove incredibly tough to beat over his optimum distance of 3,800m.
11:40 Tomgarry (Dark Horse)
Followers of this column will know that I am one of the main supporters to young trainer Hugo Merienne, the Chantilly trainer has really been making a name for himself lately and really knows how to get the best out of every horse, no matter what the market says! There could be another ‘Merienne Special’ on Sunday’s card as Tomgarry lines-up for the weakest race he has ever contested.
Equipped with cheekpieces, the seven-year-old will need to recapture his old form but in a field like this (has competed in a Grade 1) I would be disappointed if he wasn’t at least in the three. Some great prize-money on offer (€48k) for this amateur riders race and Merienne has left no stone unturned and gives successful UK rider Noel George the leg up here. This is where my money is going on Sunday!
HORSE RACING TIPS: ANYTHING WILL DO FOR PADDY AT CORK ON SUNDAY
12:43 Gamin d’Oudairies (NAP)
I put this one in the notebook after his comeback run a month ago where he finished a very close fourth over hurdles, when not given a hard time. Gamin d’Oudairies is very-much a chaser and now that he is back over the larger obstacles I am a lot more interested.
Guillaume Macaire has campaigned the four-year-old perfectly and in his nine career starts the gelding has won five and been placed four times, taking over €115k in prize-money. He is still unbeaten over fences and I would be surprised if he went on to a big one this winter. That warm-up run should have put him ripe for this race and he is easily my NAP of the day.
13:52 Ajas (E/W)
David Cottin has been in exceptional form this season and although Ajas has a bit to find in term of official rating with the like of Saint Goustan Blue, he cannot be over-looked here with his trainers recent strike-rate. The gelding has won three of his last four starts and was a runaway winner at Auteuil just two weeks ago.
I am lucky enough to see this horse on the gallops every morning (occasionally even ride him) and he done a cracking piece of work on Tuesday. He may not be good enough to win this but should give a bold effort to take his share of the €145k on offer for the Grand Steeple Chase de Compiegne.
Jason’s tips for Compiegne on Sunday
11:10 Staunton Street (NB)
11:40 Tomgarry (Dark Horse)
12:43 Gamin d’Oudairies (NAP)
13:52 Ajas (E/W)
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