Expert insight and betting clues for the action at Chantilly and Toulouse

With racing still suspended in Britain due to equine flu and a blank day in the Irish calendar, Chantilly and Toulouse offer a French double bill for Sky Sports Racing viewers that will run from 10.55am to 7.07pm. France correspondent Scott Burton flags up some names to watch out for.

Former classy juvenile on the road back

At a Chantilly meeting where four of the first five races are claimers, those mining for some quality will quickly be attracted to Zyzzyva in the Prix du Poteau des Vignettes (11.55).

The Siyouni colt showed huge promise as a juvenile with Robyn Brisland, notably when coming within half a length of landing the Group 3 Prix des Chenes on turf here in September 2017.

Zyzzyva faces a big drop in class but has only been seen once on the racecourse since finishing a close third in the 2017 Prix des ChenesCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

It would be another 50 weeks before Zyzzyva was seen out again but new trainer Roger Varian clearly retained a high opinion given he was pitched straight back into Group 3 level in the Prix Daphnis at Deauville.

Another five months on he makes his debut for Chantilly-based Gavin Hernon in a race where his back form is well ahead of that boasted by any rival, with the booking of Pierre-Charles Boudot an indication connections believe Zyzzyva will prove a lot better than this in the long run.

For those wanting to take on Zyzzyva – who has clearly not been easy to train and will be having a first try on Polytrack – the ex-Godolphin-owned Sidewalk came within a short neck of winning on the all-weather at Marseille-Vivaux when debuting for Fabrice Vermeulen, though she is likely to be short enough with local punters given Christophe Soumillon rides.

Near is Gold for next generation of Head masters

Another colt whose connections will have entertained Classic dreams last winter is Near Gold, who was talked of as a possible Derby horse after showing plenty of promise at two.

In a sense such expectations were partly vindicated, given the only horse to beat Near Gold at two was future Prix du Jockey Club hero Study Of Man.

Christopher Head enjoyed his first success as a trainer with Near Gold at Deauville in JanuaryCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Things didn't work out in the spring of last year but the Dansili colt still earned a place in Head family history when, having moved stables from father Freddy to son Christopher, Near Gold became the latter's first winner at Deauville in January.

That was over the same trip as Near Gold will encounter in the Prix de la Premiere Route Ronde (2.12), a race in which he is 3lb clear of his nearest rival on ratings yet receives weight from Epouville and Cherisy.

Patience can be rewarded

Claimers are not necessarily unprofitable betting mediums, and for British and Irish punters who fancy an earlier flutter it will be helpful to know that trainers can select a reserve amount below which they don't have to defend a claim.

Broadly speaking, the higher the reserve price, the more weight is carried.

Card and form

It is the nature of a fixture such as this that not too many horses come into their chosen engagement with a string of 1s and 2s next to their name, but Rajsa Card bucks that trend in the Prix de la Route des Genets (1.37), a 2m handicap in which few can claim to be improving.

Since the turn of the year trainer Christophe Martinon, who is based near Lyon, has coaxed two seconds and a win over a mile and a half out of Rajsa Card – who has form over a marathon trip – and has supplemented the five-year-old for this race.

Femme leads the Action at Toulouse

Following on from Angers in the north-west on Monday, France's jumps calendar continues its emergence from winter quarantine at Pau with three interesting races at the start of a mixed card at Toulouse.

Guillaume Macaire saddles two interesting newcomers over fences at Toulouse on TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Guillaume Macaire and the man who deposed him as champion trainer last year, Francois Nicolle, hold a strong hand in the four-year-old chase, the Prix Fineau (4.30).

Trotting fans will instantly recognise the red and black colours of Pierre 'Bold Eagle' Pilarski, whose Fandango is the more experienced of the two Macaire runners, having never been out of the first four over hurdles.

Macaire also fields Makewish, who twice ran respectably over hurdles at Pau without making too many waves.

Nicolle relies on Femme D'Action, who also makes her chasing debut and was highly tried in three attempts over hurdles at Auteuil.

Toulouse is a popular venue for many of the south-west's leading Flat trainers to try out inexperienced horses and it is far from impossible that the 1m2f maiden for three-year-olds, the Prix de la Providence (5.05), could throw up a future stakes horse.

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