Preview: Pau.
Pau is famous for its Cross-Country races and this Sunday is the renewal of the Listed Grand Cross de Pau (Prix Gaston de Bataille) (6300m). The twelve-race marathon card also features two other Listed contests. We look ahead to Sunday's fixture...
Listed 135EME GRANDE COURSE DE HAIES DE PAU (PRIX MAX DE GINESTET) Hurdle (4100m)
This campaign, Berjou has been switching between hurdling and steeplechasing and ran well at Cagnes-sur-Mer when a distant second in the Listed Prix du Comte de Nice Steeple-Chase (4200m) on Christmas Day. The eight-year-old holds claims on paper. Hetre Rouge maintains appeal with a strong record at Pau. The five-year-old holds five wins and a placing from seven track starts and will be bidding for a four timer at Pau this season. Gaboriot could be interesting. His preparation appears to be carefully planned with some mixed form at Auteuil in 2021 to draw upon. Deo Gratias is not to be dismissed after a fair fourth in the G3 Grand Prix de Pau Steeple-Chase (5300m) two weeks ago. Finally, Manon des Sources was a good third in the G3 Grand Prix de La Ville de Nice - Bernard Secly Steeple-Chase (4600m) at Cagnes-sur-Mer and looks one to note.
Listed PRIX ANTOINE DE PALAMINY Steeple-Chase (3900m)
A four-year-old only Listed steeple-chase with plenty of promising types looking to enhance their profiles. Nambiti has been running well at this track during the winter in Class One steeple-chases including a second behind Ideal d'Allier who won here three weeks ago. Both can be shortlisted. Tennesee Basc found success on steeple-chase debut and is worth a market check upped in grade. Crazy Luca has taken to the larger obstacles this campaign and could be an interesting runner. Morgan Has represents top trainer François Nicolle and won by an impressive sixteen lengths on first steeple-chase attempt here in December. Progress is likely. Dreammy Love and Island Emery are worth considering.
Listed GRAND CROSS DE PAU (PRIX GASTON DE BATAILLE) Cross-Country (6300m)
The feature race on the card looks a competitive open renewal. Patrice Quinton won last year's overall trainers title of the Crystal Cup and can start the 2022 series in great form with five horses entered (at time of writing). These include the Pau specialist Saint Godefroy who has recorded six wins from eight starts at the course and last time delivered a comfortable six length success over 5000m at Pau in the middle of January. He demands respect up in level.
Parc Monceau is one of the oldest runners in the contest and brings plenty of cross-country experience. He ran well when third in the 2019 Listed Prix Super U Craon - Prix Louis de Guebriant (6000m) and been lightly raced since. Fellow eleven-year-old Fayas is another with claims after a fair fourth in the Listed Grand Steeplechase-Cross-Country de Compiegne (5400m) two outings back.
Otchoa Rouge makes plenty of appeal after a successful 2021 with his victory in the Listed Grand Steeple-Chase Cross-Country de Fontainebleau (6000m) a stand-out performance. The son of Diamond Boy posted a strong third tackling the Listed Prix Anjou-Loire Challenge (7300m) at Le Lion d'Angers and should be in the mix.
Away from the Patrice Quinton stable, previous race winner Uniketat must be included. He holds a 50% winning strike rate at Pau and could be a leading chance. Lucky Net Love was runner-up in this contest last year behind Uniketat but would need to show best form after being beaten by potential re-opposing rivals so far this season. Gareth de Larachi steps up in class after a 30 length victory last month here.
For the placings, Jocrack A La Motte holds a consistent cross-country profile and Denalie Bellevue is a last time course winner.
