Desmond Stoneham

3.15 Prix Leon-Olry-Roederer (Grade 2) 5yo+ 2m 51/2f

Nick Williams is off to Auteuil again this weekend and he should pick up some more euros with Agrapart who runs in this valuable hurdle with Lizzie Kelly in the saddle. First place might be beyond his grasp if Blue Dragon can be relaxed after his last run when he was pulled-up at the entrance to the straight.

French-bred Agrapart (Martaline) was a Grade 3 handicap winner at Newbury in February and not foot perfect when the last one of seven to finish here last month. The runner-up in that race, Alex De Larredya, has since landed the Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne where Blue Dragon led for a long time but came back to the pack after a clumsy jump. James Reveley called it a day and Blue Dragon never crossed the line but he is one of the best young hurdlers in France, when on song.

Martalette is the only mare in the field of 11. She has been running well in decent races all year and comes back to hurdling after an outing in a chase as does Arry who is consistent and from the bang in form stable of Francois Nicolle.

Selection: BLUE DRAGON

Next best: Agrapart

Devon-based Williams and Kelly should also be in the money after the Prix Pre Catelan earlier in the afternoon. There are just six runners in this three-year-old hurdle for fillies and Daisy De Sivola is the only one to have won. This came in a race at Dieppe in June and the English filly may well add another €23,040 to the €169,125 already earned by Williams in France this season. The dangers appear to be Vision Du Pont and Eclipse d’Ainay who should finish close to each other again.