Laurent Barbarin

Published 9.18 - 08/06

Angers and Toulouse take centre stage in France on Monday, with eight races scheduled at both venues, with all the action live on Sky Sports Racing.

Race 2 at 13:53 is a 6½-furlong maiden for three-year-olds and has attracted a field of nine runners. Marbellesa has been admirably consistent so far and is a deserving favourite. However, her recent form suggests she could be vulnerable to DELAJA, a daughter of Victor Ludorum trained by Stéphane Wattel.

A game fifth of 11 on her debut over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud on 10 March, the filly showed marked improvement when finishing third in a similar maiden over the same course and distance on 3 April. After setting the pace, she was beaten only a head for second place and emerged with plenty of credit.

She notably finished 1¼ lengths ahead of Hello Avenue, who subsequently shed her maiden tag at Chantilly on 12 May, narrowly defeating none other than Marbellesa. That piece of form sets a strong standard and could prove good enough to land today's contest.

Delaja disappointed on her most recent start at Saint-Cloud on 5 May, but that effort is best overlooked according to Stéphane Wattel. The trainer knows the family exceptionally well, having also trained the filly's dam and granddam, the latter a Group 3 winner at Deauville for the same connections.

If Delaja can reproduce the level of form she showed in early April, she looks the one they all have to beat.

Race 6 at 16:13 is an 11½ furlongs handicap for four-year-olds and upwards. A winner of four of her 29 starts, the five-year-old mare EXCESSIVENESS lines up here on the back of an eye-catching effort over this course and distance on 2 May in an identical handicap.

Returning from a four-month break on that occasion, she was ridden patiently towards the rear and travelled strongly throughout the home straight. However, she only found daylight inside the final 150 metres, leaving her with far too much to do. Although she eventually finished ninth of 14 runners, it was a performance full of promise and one that can be marked up significantly.

With a clear passage, she would surely have posed a serious threat to the winner.

Successful at Craon last September in a similar contest over the same trip, she now races from a mark just 2lb higher than her last winning rating. This latest effort early May suggests that this remains a very workable mark.

Ambre Molins, who has partnered the daughter of Time Test to two of her four career victories, retains the ride on Monday.

Drawn in stall 13, she should not be inconvenienced given her usual racing style. Provided she enjoys better luck in running this time, Excessiveness has every chance of going very close.

My next column will be on Thursday 11 June for action from La Teste, a meeting shown live on Sky Sports Racing.