Laurent Barbarin

Published 5.21 - all selections online

We race on the flat at Le Mans this Tuesday and over jumps at Compiègne where a very good card of action featuring a Grade 3 Chase and a Listed Hurdle awaits us.

The La Suze Maiden Stakes (11.55) is a two-mile maiden for four-year-old's and upwards that has drawn a field of fourteen. Keen Lady is expected to head the market, but NEVER RISK looks an interesting alternative at likely bigger odds.

Trained by Hugo Merienne, the seven-year-old mare has a solid background over jumps, with 33 starts to her name (30 over hurdles and three over fences) for four victories, and she only made her Flat debut on 13 March at Fontainebleau . She finished fourth of nine that day over 13f, shaping well after missing the break and moving in front from halfway through the race.

The mare improved on that effort at Nancy on 4 April, where she was beaten just a head in a similar race, possibly hitting the front a little too soon when asked to go on three furlongs out.

A three-time hurdles winner over 2m3f, including twice this winter, the new trip of two miles on the flat shouldn’t inconvenience her. By No Risk At All, she’s a straightforward, consistent type who is likely to be ridden handily again by Aurélien Lemaître, who was aboard last time at Nancy.

She looks capable of going close here and sets a fair standard based on what she’s shown so far in her two attempts on the Flat.

The La Fleche Stakes (12.27) is a 7f Class 2 race for three-year-olds. In this 8 runner field, I do like the profile of TRINQUETTE.

A son of City Light, he opened his account over this trip at Compiègne last July, getting the better of Wollemi, with Samangan and Street Show further behind. That form has worked out notably well, with the latter pair finishing first and second in the Group 2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte in October, where Trinquette himself was fourth.

Tim Donworth's charge returned to action in the Listed Prix Ronde de Nuit at Chantilly on March 16, finishing sixth of thirteen over the 5½f straight course, beaten just over two lengths. He travelled handily and kept on well without being knocked about, shaping as though the run would bring him forward.

The step back up to 7f and this ease in grade look firmly in his favour. With Cristian Demuro booked and stall 1 a positive around this track, he should secure a good early position before the bend and could prove hard to peg back if settling well enough.

Persian Imp Cen rates the obvious threat, but Trinquette looks to hold solid claims if building on his latest effort.

The Grand Marechal Chase (1.30) at Compiègne is a Class 2 Chase over 2m3½f for mares aged five and upwards. 

If there are only eight runners, this looks a very competitive affair. But a chance can be taken on TANTE ZENA who is from the yard of Mickaël Seror who has been absolutely flying this season so far, following his first title as Champion Trainer in France last year.

The daughter of Doctor Dino displayed plenty of ability over hurdles last year, winning at Lyon and being placed at Auteuil and here at Compèigne in October. 

Following the winter break, she made a discreet but yet very positive comeback here at Compiègne on 11 March, finishing sixth of 13 in a 2m2f handicap hurdle. 

She made her chase debut at Fontainebleau on 29 March and scored cosily by 2 lengths in front of Journée D’la Femme who reopposes today. Tante Zena was at 9/10 on this occasion and should once again jump off at a short price. But she definitely has plenty more to offer over the bigger obstacles and any progress on her chase debut effort would make her look hard to beat. 

The mare ran to finish second over hurdles at Compiègne last season - this is definitely a big asset and she must be a worthy favourite. 

My next column will on Wednesday 22 April for action from Chantilly, a meeting shown live on Sky Sports Racing.