Nantes 13 January 2025

Boccador De Simm debutante trained and owned by Arnaud Desmottes, who is also in the sulky. For another day

Marc Sassier-trained Ducato Bourbon filly debuting with Benjamin Rochard in the sulky. Not taken lightly

Disqualified on debut at Laval and soundly beaten (11th) over 2150m at Cordemais on 5 January. Others preferred

Unplaced in consecutive starts last year (9th in both) and disqualified at Angers on 8 January. Best watched for now

Absent since finishing 6th over 2150m at Enghien in a Class C event on 27 October. Open to improvement - dark horse

Confirmed the promise of her debut 3rd over 2625m at Cherbourg by finishing a respectable 5th over 2800m at Chartres on 26 November. Respected over this shorter distance

Eye-catching 2nd on debut at Cordemais over 2150m on 5 January. Needn't improve much to go open her account here

Runner-up on debut in a course-and-distance race early last month so deserves another chance back at this level after finishing 11th in a stronger Class C event over 2100m at Vincennes on 20 December. Keep safe

Caught the eye when finishing 2nd on debut over 2300m at Argentan on 4 January and would've improved appreciably with that experience under her belt

Disqualified in her first 3 starts and unplaced (9th) in her latest at Meslay-du-Maine over 2875m on 24 November, so hard to recommend. Others preferred

Disqualified once and unplaced twice in her 3 appearances - finished 8th (shod) over 2875m at Meslay on 24 November. Open to improvement racing with shoes removed (barefoot) for the first time in her career

Runner-up on debut at Cordemais over 2825m on 15 December. Would've benefitted from that experience and, with any improvement, should play a leading role

Runner-up on debut over 2700m at Graignes in November and acquitted herself well in defeat (6th) over 2850m at Laval on 8 December. Candidate for success

Experienced 11-start maiden unlikely to trouble the judge on the evidence of her last start (8th) over 2750m in a claimer at Lisieux on 13 October. Overlook

Bounced back to form with a reassuring 2nd over 2825m at Cordemais on 15 December. Confirmation expected

Honest hard-knocker (15-start maiden) seldom far off the mark - finished 6th (shod) in 3 consecutive recent outings, the latest over 2800m at Pontchateau on 2 January. Dark horse with shoes removed (barefoot) for the first time

Experienced 15-start maiden with references in both trotting categories but soundly beaten in her last 6 starts - finished 10th (shod) in consecutive mounted races, the latest over 2825m at Cordemais on 5 January. Unshod for the first time

Consistent trotter with the form and experience to play a leading role. Acquitted herself well in defeat (6th) at a higher level over 2850m at Vincennes on 25 December - winning chance

Versatile filly with sound references/form credentials, especially in the harness code. Runner-up in the harness category over 2825m at Cordemais last month so shouldn't be hastily condemned for her faux pas under the saddle on 5 January

Experienced 12-start maiden who seldom finishes far off the mark but has only a minor role to play (place chance) here. Finished 7th (shod) over 2725m at Graignes on 30 December - open to improvement racing unshod for the first time

Delicate but consistent filly with undeniable means and sound references/form credentials, including a last-start 3rd in this shoe-fitting over 2825m at Cordemais on 5 January. Keep safe

Complicated mare with undeniable means/ability - seldom far from a fault but has sound references/form credentials. Disqualified in consecutive recent starts, the latest (shod) over 3125m at Angers on 8 January, but could redeem herself

Lightly raced mare in good form and physical condition with sound references when racing shod, including a recent 2nd in a course-and-distance race last month. Didn't go unnoticed when 5th (shod) over 2800m at Pontchateau on 2 January

Experienced filly with undeniable means and sound references but is most effective without her irons. Well-beaten 10th (unshod) in a 2750m Cabourg harness race on 2 January - best watched for now

Honest hard-knocker with consistent form references/credentials at a higher level, including a last-start 6th over 2175m at Vincennes on 13 December. Winning chance

Inconsistent but proven under these conditions/in this shoeing configuration. Disqualified (shod) at Saint-Brieuc in her latest appearance on 6 December but should fare better racing with shoes removed

Inconsistent mare with undeniable means and sound references/form credentials. Shouldn't be hastily condemned for finishing 9th over 2750m at Cabourg on 2 January

Honest hard-knocker who blotted her copybook when finishing 11th at Cabourg over 2750m on 2 January. Rarely seen in this shoe-fitting but did finish 3rd over 2700m at Vincennes when last seen in this configuration on 30 August 2023

Delicate and seldom far from a fault but undeniably talented. Snapped a sequence of 3 consecutive disqualifications by winning over 2800m at Pontchateau on 2 January. Needs only to remain wise to fight for victory - question of wisdom

Versatile mare with sound references in both trotting disciplines at a higher level although most effective racing unshod. Showed her form and well-being by finishing 2nd (barefoot) in a 2950m mounted race at le Mans on 16 December

Bounced back from consecutive disqualifications with a last-start victory over 2875m at Argentan on 26 December. Keep safe

Experienced hard-knocker with references at this level, including a commendable last-start 6th (barefoot) over 2750m at Cabourg on 2 January. For another day

Experienced trotter with sound references, though most effective without his irons (unshod). Unplaced (7th, shod) over 2800m at Pontchateau on 22 December - best watched for now

Versatile hard-knocker with references in both categories, including a 2825m mounted win at Cordemais in November and a course-and-distance 3rd in a harness race last month. Not taken lightly after his 6th under the saddle in a 2700m mounted race at Vincennes on 31 December - attractive outsider

Complicated trotter with undeniable means but seldom far from a fault - acquits himself competitively when remaining wise, especially at this level. Shouldn't be condemned for finishing 9th in a stronger 2700m Vincennes race on 4 January

Rewarded for consistency with a belated breakthrough maiden victory in a course-and-distance race on 8 December, albeit at a lower level. Proven under these conditions/in this shoeing configuration and should remain competitive

Delicate and seldom far from a fault but undeniably capable trotter with sound references - usually acquits himself well when avoiding disqualification. Absent since his latest failure faux pas at Vincennes on 17 September

Consistent hard-knocker in good form and physical condition with sound references, including a last-start Argentan 2nd over 2875m in his first appearance with this shoe-fitting on 26 December. Keep safe

Complicated trotter disqualified in 3 of his last 5 starts, including back-to-back Vincennes harness race over 2700m - the latest on 17 September. Not taken lightly on his reappearance

Regained momentum with 3 comeback appearances after a 6-month absence and confirmed as much with a reassuring 5th (shod) over 2950m at Le Mans on 16 December. Open to improvement in this shoe-fitting for the first time

Honest hard-knocker with consistent form references, including a course-and-distance 3rd last month and subsequent 3rd at Le Mans over 2950m on 16 December. Candidate for success

Well-beaten 10th over 2750m at Cabourg in his first appearance with this shoe-fitting on 2 January. Others preferred

Inconsistent but versatile trotter with sound references under these conditions/in this shoeing configuration. Finished 11th (shod) in at 2750m Cabourg harness event on 2 January but is capable of a better performance racing barefoot

Lightly raced trotter with sound references and room for improvement. Returned to form last time (4th) at Saint-Brieuc over 3150m in his first start with this shoe-fitting on 6 December - confirmation expected

Delicate trotter (disqualified in 12 of 17 appearances) with undeniable means, though most effective under the saddle. At fault in all 3 comeback outings after a 7-month absence, the latest in a 2175m Vincennes mounted on 25 December

Rejuvenated hard-knocker in good form and physical condition - finished 3rd in consecutive recent starts, the latest in a 2800m harness race at Pontchateauon 2 January in this shoeing configuration. Candidate for success with Eric Raffin

A delicate trotter with undeniable means - winner over this course and distance in October on his only visit to this track. Showed his form and well-being by finishing 2nd in this shoeing configuration at over 2150m Toulouse on 6 December

Course-and-distance winner of a similar contest in this barefoot configuration on 27 September, then finished 2nd over 2850m at Mauquenchy in November. Shouldn't be condemned for an underwhelming 9th at Meslay on 19 December

Complicated hard-knocker who seldom finishes far off the mark/usually acquits himself competitively when remaining wise. Disqualified in 2 of his last 3 starts, the latest at Grenade-sur-Garonne on 15 December - probably for another day

Honest hard-knocker who is seldom far off the mark but rarely wins (just 1 victory from 50 starts). Didn't go unnoticed when finishing 5th (shod) over 2150m at Argentan on 26 December - for lovers of outsiders

Consistent hard-knocker in good form and physical condition with sound references (albeit at a lower level), including a last-start 2nd over 2600m at Meslay-du-Maine on 19 December. Keep safe

Honest veteran mare with sound references under these conditions (shod) at a higher level and seldom far off the mark. Absent since finishing 9th over 2625m at Cherbourg on 19 August - best watched for now

Consistent hard-knocker with references under these conditions/in this barefoot configuration at a higher level. Should not be hastily condemned for finishing 10th in a stronger 2175m race at Vincennes on 3 January - attractive outsider

Delicate and seldom far from a fault but usually acquits himself competitively when applied/remaining wise - confirmed as much by finishing 4th (shod) over 2800m at Pontchateau on 2 January after 5 previous consecutive disqualifications

Versatile hard-knocker with sound form references in both categories, including a last-start 2nd at Vincennes in a 2700m mounted race on 1 January. Has won and finished 2nd twice in 3 appearances at Nantes (all of them over this distance)

Honest hard-knocker with sound references/form credentials under these conditions and in this barefoot configuration at a higher level - seldom far off the mark. Didn't go unnoticed (7th) over 2350m at Angers on 8 January and can pop up

Course-and-distance winner at a higher level in this unshod configuration on 17 November. Unplaced in 2 subsequent appearances and disqualified in her latest outing at Angers over 2350m on 8 January - shouldn't be hastily condemned

Consistent mare with the form and experience to play a leading role in a race of this nature but is most effective unshod. Acquitted herself well in defeat (7th) at a higher level over 2100m at Vincennes on 7 December - not taken lightly

Honest veteran trotter with sound references under these conditions at a higher level - seldom finishes far off the mark. Wasn't at all disgraced at a higher level when finishing 7th over 2175m at Vincennes on 3 January so must be respected

Battling long-time maiden with just 5 places from 93 appearances. Unlikely to trouble the judge on the evidence of his last start (7th) in a 2800m mounted race at Pontchateau on 2 January

No-show in 4 appearances last year and finished unplaced (8th) in a 2800m mounted race at Pontchateau on 2 January. Others preferred

Last-start winner (barefoot) over 2700m of a mounted race at Graignes on 30 December. Races shod on this occasion but should remain competitive for the leading positions

Consistent performer under the saddle with solid form references/credentials at a higher level, including a last-start 5th over 2700m at Vincennes in a Class D race on 22 December. Candidate for success, even with his irons

Hard-knocking veteran proven in the mounted category with sound references/form credentials at a higher level under the saddle. Absent since finishing 8th in a stronger 28275m race/field at Enghien on 14 October - not taken lightly

Consistent performer in the mounted category with references under these conditions/with his irons (shod). Shouldn't be hastily condemned for his faux pas in a course-and-distance harness race on 17 November - attractive outsider

Won a harness amateur race at Chatelaillon-La Rochelle in November but finished 8th in consecutive recent starts, the latest over 2800m at Pontchateau on 22 December. Lacks references under the saddle so is best watched for now

Well-performed trotter in the mounted code with references (winning form) at a higher level, especially in this barefoot configuration. Blotted his copybook (disqualified) at Vincennes on 8 December but should quickly redeem himself here

Won his last 2 barefoot appearances, including his latest outing over 2800m at Pontchateau on 2 January. Needs only to repeat that performance to fight for victory

Hard-knocking veteran mare with sound references/form credentials at a higher level in the harness category, including 3 consecutive 3rd-place finishes (the latest over 2700m at Vincennes on 1 January). Respected in her first mounted race

Versatile veteran mare on a long losing run. Soundly beaten in 6 consecutive outings, the latest (7th) under the saddle at Bordeaux over 2650m on 27 December. Best watched for now

In good form and was third in Class F at Le Croise- Laroche over 2825m on 16 December. Be right there at the finish

Disappointing last run when 7th in Class E at Montauban over 2400m on 29 December. Needs to do more to beat these rivals

Has struggled of late and was 8th in Class F over this course and distance on 3 December. Needs to find a few lengths to win

Has disqualification issues and was disqualified last time out at Vire on 20 November. Probably best watched for now

Unreliable but was barefoot and runner-up in Class F at Cabourg over 2725m on 19 December. Not unshod this time but has a winning chance

Did not show his best when 7th at Cabourg over 2750m on 17 December. Capable of better but is not out of it

Battling to find best form and was tenth in Class F at Laval over 2850m on 8 December. Others make more appeal