Looking at the remaining races at Toulouse in France today. I do like Varenne in the 5.40 race. He was a decent third on his debut at Salon Provence last month when he was not given a hard ride by his jockey that day Jean-Bernard Eyquem. He was trapped wide for most of that race and the winner has franked the form since with a win on its next run in a better class race. He can score with luck in running.

Anyone looking for a short odds bet today can start the day at Cholet in France with the 10.51 race. Ashiyma is currently around 4/6 with most firms. She drops back in trip after a credible run over 1 mile in a Class 2 race last time. She can be quite keen so the 6 1/2 furlong trip today could be ideal. She should score from the likely main threat Shady Lady.

More soon.

Looking ahead to the racing tomorrow in France. At Auteuil Il Est Francais runs in the 4.00 over 2m 5f in a Grade 3 chase. He has not been seen since a tame effort on his latest start in April when he was a short-priced favourite in a Grade 2 chase at Auteuil. He has a nice break and will be short odds to score under James Reveley and should oblige.

Good Speed in the 9.45 am race at Marseille Borely has been second on the last two runs and should get off the mark at the expense of the likely main threat Chant Dore who ran a pleasing race when third on debut at this track on September 2nd when finishing his race off well.

More soon

Looking at the racing this evening in France at Le Lion D’Angers, in the last race at 7.32 it looks like the smart Revoloutionnaire could be too smart for his rivals. His main threat is Out Of Africa who scored on her debut and can only improve from that effort.

At Epsom it looks pretty difficult trying to find a winner. It is a unique track and it is always best to look for horses with previous decent efforts at the track.

Looking at the racing today in France at Dax. In the last race at 7.32 Miltown Malbay could follow up from a win on her debut at Niort last month. She got up in the shadows of the finish that day and will have learned a lot from that. Her main rival is Likata who herself won last time when getting up close home on her second run. She fell on her debut when looking well beaten at Dieppe.

More soon.

At Le Mans today where the ground will be quite testing I would imagine, the 10.40 race looks as though it could be between the front pair in the betting market. On Y Croit was a shade unlucky when last seen at Pornichet on the PSF when he was third. He raced keenly and got going late that day having been keen early on in that race and the drop back in trip should play to his strength’s. He has also won on heavy ground so the going will be ok. His possible main rival looks like it could be Georges Ville, who scored on debut at Deauville over slightly further than today’s 7 furlong race. That was on the PSF and although he should be fine on the ground, he has still to prove it. He looks a big horse who will keep on improving with race experience and time.

More tomorrow.

Looking forward to the Cheltenham festival next week. It is a shame that the Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill is a non runner due to his poor work out at Kempton and a dirty scope after that. I would hope he will be back for the Aintree meeting in a few weeks or maybe the Punchestown meeting in April.

Hopefully I can find a winner or two before Tuesday. One that will be no great price but will be hard to beat today in the 3.07 Compiegne is Sea Salinas. She was unlucky last time and although very short odds it is hard to see past her.

More tomorrow.

Looking at the racing from Deauville today. One horse that will be short odds in the betting market but looked full of promise when he was second on debut at this track last time is Dollar Index 16.13 race. He was not given a hard time and should make plenty of progress from that encouraging run.

After a good break hopefully I can start punters off with a winner today in France. Tamariske 3.35 Lyon La Soie has been racing in better races of late and should be too good for her rivals in this drop in Grade today. She has a handy weight and has cheekpieces for the first time today, Zarica looks the main rival as she is a prolific winner in claiming races and will do her best to beat the selection. The 5kg she has to concede might be a bit too much.

Very soft ground at most of the racecourses in the UK at the moment. I will be primarily concentrating on the racing in France over the next few weeks. The ground in France has been very soft/heavy at plenty of the meetings with the exception of the all weather tracks.

I will hopefully try to find a winner or two over the next few days.

More tomorrow.