Our Racing expert, Andy Holding, has one tip for today's racing at Deauville.
13:35 Deauville
A decent-looking all-weather fillies’ handicap for punters to get their teeth in to and of the market leaders, La Poutanesca is bound to have her supporters. Although she’s better known for her exploits on the turf (4 win in 28 starts), the daughter of Falco did run well on only her second start on an all-weather surface when runner-up in a similar handicap here back in March and it’s just a question of whether she has the pace to cope with several specialists at this mile trip.
One who looks sure to go well based on her overall profile is GRACE BERE (best price 4-1) and she rates the value call at the early morning odds. A lightly-raced four-year-old, the daughter of Pedro The Great has run well on her two starts at today’s track - the second of those outings resulting in a cosy victory over the extended seven-furlong trip back in January - and she has done little wrong since. The way she followed up at Chantilly next time indicated she’s a filly on the improve and even though she failed to complete the hat trick over the same course last time out, there were mitigating circumstances. Locked up and short of room two furlongs out, Stephan Cerilus’ filly couldn’t get out in time to offer any sort of resistance to the front three home, but as least she finished off her race well enough to suggest she still remains to tip-top shape. Hopefully she will strip fit after the enforced 75-day absence and if so, she’s likely to have a significant say in the outcome.
One for whom fitness isn’t an issue is Long Island and she has to be some sort of consideration. Although it was only a claimer she landed at Longchamp 10 days ago, she did it the hard way by coming from some way off the pace and she has enough solid form on the all-weather to feature. Of the rest, Special Appeal may need a little further than today’s mile journey to be seen at her best (both her two wins have come over 1m2f), while I Am Charlie reverts back to handicap company after making the frame in two conditions events before the break.
15:25 Deauville
A disappointing turnout numbers-wise for this Group 3 and it looks at the mercy of Call The Wind if anywhere near his best. One of the best stayers on home soil, the Freddie Head-trained gelding was only narrowly touched off in last season’s Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp on ‘Arc’ day and he went on to fill out the same position over half a mile shorter behind the very smart Technician at the same track later in the same month. Sent to contest the Saudi Cup following an 85-day break, the six-year-old lowered the colours of some big names such as Cross Counter, Dee Ex Bee and Prince Of Arran over the 1m7f trip and that performance confirmed him as being one the very best older horses in training. Although unlikely to be at absolute fever-pitch first time out, it would still be a shock of sorts if the son of Frankel fails to make a winning seasonal return.
Holdthasigreen got the better of Call The Wind in the Cadran back in October and that victory was a reward for his general consistency at the highest level. Unable to confirm the form against his old rival when third in the Prix Royal-Oak on his final start to the campaign, it will be interesting to see what level he is at after a break of 210 days. Likely to make the running, his chances hinge on whether he can get the better of a tactical battle over Call The Wind.
The other three need both the front two in the market to underachieve and of the trio, Diluvien is the only one with any notable form in pattern company.
16:00 Deauville
Just three to concentrate on here in this three-year-old conditions event and of the trio, the one with the biggest reputation is Bring On The Night. Disappointing when well-fancied first time out, Andre Fabre’s colt duly made no mistake next time on turf debut at Compiegne and on the evidence of the latter display, he looks a nice colt in the making.
L’Aigle has the benefit of a recent run when sixth in an above-average affair at Saint-Cloud and if the favourite fails to fire again on an all-weather surface, he rates the likely beneficiary. Gommerville is difficult to assess in many respects as his victory came courtesy of a lowly event at one of France’s minor country tracks, but at the same time, he was quite impressive and he can clearly operate to a decent standard.
17:10 Deauville
A small, but select field go to post for this conditions event and of the quintet, Tawkeel looks the likeliest winner on paper. A cosy winner on debut at Pau back in January when she was given a patient ride to run down subsequent scorer Hur Cat late on, the daughter of Teofilo showed her versatility tactics-wise by making all of the running in victory at Cagnes-Sur-Mer a month later. The feature of both of her wins has been how impressively she’s opened up her stride once in full cry and this tall, scopey filly looks to have a bright future whatever the outcome this afternoon (The French Oaks a target muted by connections).
Despite the betting pointing heavily in favour of Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly, this won’t be a total pushover up against the likes of Wangari and La Norma, who both bring a fair level of form to the table from both her starts last season. The former clearly learnt plenty from her debut when she was well-beaten as next time she was able to come from last-to-first in a few bounds to score going away over today’s C&D. Seemingly better suited by the synthetic surface than heavy ground first time up, she’s a dangerous one to underestimate. The latter ran a promising race first time out against a bunch of fillies who have all gone on to frank the form, so it was no great surprise to see her get off the mark herself next time. Whether she’s the one for today based on the confidence surrounding her stable mate is open to question, but either way, she’s clearly no slouch and she could be capable of causing a shock if running on her merits.
