Something old and something new in Pau Grand Prix
Archive Photo: scoopdyga.com
Sunday, January 23, 2022, Pont-Long racecourse (Pau). - The 135th renewal of the Grand Prix de Pau Biraben Foie Gras Chase (Gr3), also named Prix André Labarrère, has gathered eleven runners including the 2nd and 3rd-placed of the 2021 edition, Eddy de Balme (Cachet Noir) and the 9-year-old spinster Deo Gratias (Saddler Maker). Eddy de Balme is one of the 4 runners saddled by François Nicolle, who is still missing a win in the Pau "Grand Steeple". He will also delegate Polinuit (Poliglote), who's never run there, Happy Monarch (Saint des Saints) and Flying Startandco (Cokoriko).
David Cottin, on the contrary, has saddled the three last winners of the Winter showdown and has now two runners in the race with 7-year-old Lateranito (Martaline), representing the late Magalen Bryant and David Powell, and the only 5-year-old in the mix, the mare Hispanic Moon (Spanish Moon).
However, the last prep race, the Prix Bernard de Dufau Chase, run over 4,700 metres (almost 3 miles) instead of Sunday's 5,300 metres (3m 2 1/2f), went to Spanish One (Spanish Moon), trained by Philippe and Camille Peltier, who beat the AQPS mare Ferronnière (Network). Both are back and the former is even 2lbs better off on the weights. Fourth on that day, Flying Startandco is even better with 4lbs less to carry.
Fifth in 2021, Darling des Bordes (Balko) is here again for the Papot family, along with the outsider Fines Ailes (Doctor Dino).
Eleven races are on at Pau on Sunday, with 6 flat races, one cross-country, two chases and two Hurdle races on the plate, from 11:35am to 5:22pm.