Published  09.33 - 12/06

We have an excellent card at Saint-Cloud this Friday, featuring eight races, with the La Moskowa Listed Stakes (1.53) the highlight of the afternoon.

Race 2  - the Rescousse Stakes (1.18) - is a competitive Class 2 contest for three-year-old's over 2,400 metres. Kinasani and Colbert are likely to head the betting, but I would rather take a chance on VAN BLUTCH, a son of Van Beethoven who showed plenty of promise as a two-year-old and appears to be progressing nicely this season after two runs.

An impressive winner on debut at La Teste in early September last year, when trained there at the time, he was then caught out by a steadily run race at Le Mans on his second career start and had to settle for third place.

He returned to winning ways on 25 October, in his final start of the season with a much more comfortable success than the official three-quarter-length margin suggests at Bordeaux over 1,900 metres. He finished ahead of Habibi, who subsequently won her next start and lines up in Sunday's Prix de Diane for Jean-Claude Rouget.

Following an extended winter break and a move to Amy Murphy's yard, Van Blutch made a discreet seasonal reappearance over today's course and distance on 17 April. He stepped forward from that effort when taking the third place in a mile and a quarter Class 2 event at Saint-Cloud on 15 May and should now be approaching peak fitness.

This imposing individual may appear to have a bit to find on ratings, but a return to the level of form that saw him record two impressive victories last season would make him a major contender. He could well adopt front-running tactics and force several of his rivals out of their comfort zones from an early stage. He looks the value horse of this race. 

My second selection of the day comes in the feature La Moskowa Listed Stakes (1.53). This 3,000-metre contest for four-year-old's and upwards has attracted a field of seven and looks a fairly open affair.

Taking on seasoned performers such as Goay Senora and Barbate, HOTHEADED appeals as a very interesting contender. The son of Frankel was particularly impressive when winning on debut over 2,400 metres in May last year before taking a significant step forward in a Listed contest at Deauville in August. On that occasion, he cruised to a decisive three-length success over 3,000 metres, defeating rivals such as Asmarani and Espoir Avenir who both went on to score at Group level subsequently.

Hotheaded failed to build on that performance when a disappointing third in a Group 3 at Longchamp later that month, despite being sent off the odds-on favourite. Gelded during the winter, he returned to action in a Listed race at Saint-Cloud at the end of March but could only finish fifth of nine runners.

This colt has shown a tendency to race too keenly, an issue that has accompanied him throughout his career so far. However, he possesses considerable ability and, if able to settle better, he has more than enough class to win a race of this nature.

After a break of almost two and a half months, the hope is that André Fabre and his team have found a way to help him relax during his races. There is no doubt about his talent and, if he returns in the same form he displayed last season, he could prove very difficult to beat.

My next column will be on Sunday 14 June for Group action from Chantilly, featuring the Prix de Diane, a meeting shown live on Sky Sports racing from midday.