Forthing goes for 3rd Pau Grand Prix

The 133rd Grand Prix de Pau Chase (Gr3) takes place this Sunday over the 3m1/3 chase at the Pont-Long, almost the distance from the stands on the racecourse to Pau Town hall, a historic supporter who participated in 2019 in the renovation of the all-weather track, which will be officially inaugurated on that day.
One of the eleven runners in this 2020 edition of the "Grand Prix" catches most of the spotlight: Forthing (Barastraight). Owned by Magalen Bryant, the 9yo gelding has already won twice in the local classic, in 2017 and in 2019, and he could have won it a 3rd time hadn't he gone off course in the 2018 renewal, when spooked by a rival misbehaviour.
Trained by David Cottin, Forthing did not run between January and December. He just fell at the first jump for his return chasing, when favourite after a win and a second place over Pau hurdles.
Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote), trained by François Nicolle for the Papot family, is the best rated hof his foes here. He slipped on the flat in the 2019 edition while he was still leading the race handily. Since then, he has gone up the podium five times at Auteuil, including once on the highest step. He finished 4th lately in the Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1), an Auteuil classic. He gets almost 7lbs from Forthing, but will carry the same weight as two other well regarded 8-years-old. First Shakapon (Deportivo), who has just finished ahead of Emirat (Coastal Path) in the last prep race - where Forthing fell. Then, Chinco Star (Manilas), owned by Zingaro and trained in Royan by Isabelle Gallorini. Bred by the trainer's father and her brother, Chinco Star was off over a year until April. His trainer kept him from being exposed but "Chinco" is unbeaten in two races over the Pau Chase course, where he won very easily every time, but that was three years ago ...
Also trained by Isabelle Gallorini, this time for the Ecurie Sagara, the 6-year-old El Gringo (Kamsin) is also very consistent at Pau: he has won five of his seven outings on this course. He was a good third last time out behind Arlequin d'Allier (Voix du Nord) and Ecbatane, beating Emirat carrying 3kgs less, rather than only one here.
Third in the "Grand Prix" last year, the 10-year-old Arlequin d'Allier ran 8 times at Pau out of his last 10 races. His trainer Emmanuel Clayeux also saddles Fyrmyin (Nickname), who has already won a chase at Pau but was 5th over hurdles lately, and Emirat.
Fourth in this race last year, Amirande (Astarabad) has just won again, while Enfant du Large (Great Pretender) is the lowest rating in the race.
Finally, Laterana (Saint of Saints) is the only mare and the youngest runner at 5. The last time a 5yo mare won this, it was back in 2004 with Nériette. Owned by Magalen Bryant and David Powell, she is like Forthing trained by David Cottin and has just won her first Chase at Pau, where she made the news last winter over hurdles. Her own brother Latérano won the 4yo Grand Steeple there in 2014.
She might have that in her blood!
The race is off at 4:07 p.m. on Sunday in a 11-races card with flat and jumps mixed from 11:40am to 5:30pm!