Our racing expert has three tips for Longchamp.
10.10
Raabihah turned in a striking performance when winning on debut at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on her only start at two and she easily rates the one with the most potential going forward in today’s line-up. Pushed along momentarily as the pace increased at the two pole 112-days ago, the Sea The Stars filly quickly found her stride and by the time she had hit the line, she’d managed to pull readily clear of her eight rivals. A tall, lengthy, rangy filly, Jean-Claude Rouget’s exciting middle-distance prospect looks to have been found the ideal opportunity to kick off her campaign before going on to better things.
As we’ve seen in the last few days, however, there has been plenty of shocks in some of these so-called trials and if there is to be another one of sorts, Seachange looks the most likely to step up to the plate. Promising on her debut, the daughter of Siyouni was well-backed to get off the mark at the second time of asking at Fontainebleau after an absence of 169 days and although she did her level best to justify her position in the market, she ultimately came up a little short in the final reckoning. However, the rain-softened ground wouldn’t have done her too many favours and being a rather unfurnished type, she may be seen to better effect on today’s drying surface. American Apples wouldn’t be as prepossessing at the first two in the betting, but she has dipped her bread in pattern company already when third on the all-weather at Deauville just before the enforced break. Whether she has the scope or raw ability of the other pair, though, remains to be seen.
10.40
A cracking and intriguing three-year-old contest in prospect with several potentially smart colts going to post and the standard bearing looks to be Mkfancy courtesy of his victory in the Group 1 Criterium De Saint-Cloud towards the backend of last season. Revelling in the testing conditions that day, the son of Makfi had too many answers for the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair Arthur’s Kingdom and Mythical in the closing stages and a performance of a similar level should see him bang in the argument this afternoon. He was, however, readily brushed aside by the useful Waltham on the all-weather at Deauville back in March, so there’s a strong possibility he might just be vulnerable again to something with a better turn of foot on this quicker surface and at his relatively short price, he’s passed over on this occasion.
Pao Alto also has strong pattern form next to his name thanks to a convincing success on his final outing last season and he could turn out to be very dangerous if returning in the same sort of shape 217-days on. The way he quickened to seal the deal in a matter of strides at Bordeaux last October marks him down as a smart colt in the making and, hailing from a yard who has made a fair start to the new season, the son of Intello is a must for the shortlist.
The one who really catches the eye here, however, is ANOTHER SKY (best price 7-4), and he makes plenty of appeal at his morning odds. Although he’s difficult to assess in many respects having only landed a maiden so far to date, the way he went about his work at Chantilly back in March suggests he should easily be capable of holding his own in better company. Quickening sharply off the front at the Oise venue, Freddy Head’s colt really impressed by the way he dropped his shoulder and lengthened his stride in the latter stages and given how most French tend to pan out, he could well be difficult to reel back if given a similarly forceful ride from the gate. Ocean Atlantique makes up a quartet of quality performers in the making and he simply can’t be discounted having impressed with the manner of his victory on his second outing at Saint-Cloud - albeit he did get the run of the race from the front and bagged the favourable nearside fence for good measure.
11.10
Emoji puts her unbeaten run on the line in this fascinating Group 3 prize and she’s bound to come in for some hefty support. A likeable type who impressed with the way she stuck her head down for victory on her final start as a two-year-old at Saint-Cloud, she represents a yard who has really hit the ground running so far this season. Whether she turns out to be quite good enough to topple FLIGHTY LADY (best price 9-4), however, remains to be seen and it’s Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly who makes the most appeal at the early prices. Although yet to succeed in pattern company, her excellent third to Albigna in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac easily rates the best singular piece of form going and given the way she was staying on 221 days ago, a step up in trip should also suit. The switch to her new surroundings could hardly be seen as a backward step either, so all in all, the daughter of Sir Percy gets the nod.
11.40
Again, another race dripping with quality and wide-open one to boot. Grand Glory rates the standard bearer courtesy of her fine third in the Group 1 Prix De Diana at Chantilly last June and a reproduction of that level of form should see her right in the thick of the action. Unsuited by the way the race developed 333 days ago, the daughter of Olympic Glory charged home best of all to be never-nearer at the finish and it’s just a case of hoping they go faster here this afternoon if you are siding with this scopey four-year-old.
Bolleville holds an advantage over Dariyma strictly on the form of their Saint-Cloud clash towards the backend of last season, but it’s not in tablets of stone the placings will be upheld 191 days on. The former very much got the run of the race that afternoon whereas her main market rival got trapped out wide down the unfavourable centre of the track and with today’s ground being a good deal quicker, it could well be a totally different story. The latter had created a favourable impression on her previous two starts and she remains a nice prospect from a stable renown for improving their fillies with time.
12.10
SUJET LIBRE (best price 5-2) was only beaten less than a length in a much hotter race than this on his final start last season and a repeat of that form makes him the one to beat on his return to the Paris-based venue. Indeed, the runner-up that day, Wooded, has already boosted the form so far this season with a smooth victory at Chantilly yesterday and hailing from a yard who have made a bright start to the campaign, odds around the 3-1 look more than fair.
Arapaho bids to atone for a slightly below par effort on his final start to last season’s campaign and he probably rates the main danger. Sent off 4-6 to score in pattern company for the first time, the son of Lope De Vega was readily outpointed by Happy Bere last on and as his conqueror hasn’t done anything for the form in two subsequent outings, 5-2 appears plenty short enough. The one who looks slightly underestimated here is Tibasti and he could be worth a small each-way interest at double-figure odds. The way he quickened to seal the deal at Chantilly on the all-weather when last seen suggests he’s a colt on the improve and the services of Christophe Soumillon also catches the eye.
