Three tips today from Andy Holding at Clairefontaine
11.10
Some potentially smart colts on show here and among them, Ziegfeld unsurprisingly takes centre stage. Sent off a relatively easy to back 7-2 poke on his debut here last July, the New Approach colt defied his weakness in the market with a terrier-like display by just getting up close home in a wild finish. Form-wise, it was good to see the runner-up, Rebel Ghosts, win subsequently, thus adding a nice bit of texture to the race, and with the likelihood of more to come as a three-year-old, Andre Fabre’s inmate will hopefully go on to make the grade at some stage.
Andre Fabre trained the runner-up to Natural Path when he maintained his unbeaten record at Maisons-Laffitte last October, so the crack French handler will have some idea of what it takes to beat his charge’s main market rival. That said, the son of Toronado will be no pushover based on the way he developed last season and he remains a fine prospect in his own right.
Nat King was put well in his place by Pao Alto last time out, but as the winner is shortlisted for the French 2000 Guineas, there’s plenty of perspective attached to the task at hand two weeks ago.
12.10
Group 3 action over seven furlongs and there’s no question Spinning Memories deserves her place at the head of the market. A winner over six furlongs at this level at Deauville last season, the daughter proved that she’s ready for another productive campaign by scoring first time out at Longchamp over further and although it could be argued that it wasn’t the strongest of listed races at the Paris-based track, the manner of her victory couldn’t be faulted. The way she travelled and quickened 17 days ago pointed towards a filly right on top of her game and it will take a good one to lower her colours if she’s in the same frame of mind.
Devil turned out to be a disappointment when tested to see whether he was 2000 Guineas material on his seasonal return at Longchamp, so with connections having a rethink, races of this nature look the order of the day for the rest of the term. Just tipped out by Shadn in a Group 2 over six furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on his final start last season, a performance of a similar standard would give him some sort of chance of toppling the favourite.
Azano rates an interesting contender having his first outing for new connections since leaving John Gosden and he most definitely comes into the argument on the pick of his form. Disappointing on his final start at Doncaster, he’s better judged on his victory in a Group 3 at Chantilly this time last year and if the change in stable does bring about fresh perspective, he certainly has the ability to figure. Another to mention in a favourable light is Stunning Spirit as he should find today’s test a little less fraught than the one he faced at Chantilly on his seasonal return. Ultimately no match for impressive winner, Pretreville, the six-year-old paid for trying to match strides with the winner in the latter stages and having shown a consistent level of form in and around this sort of level for some time, he probably looks the percentage call for those seeking some value in the race.
1.20
Several arrive here in better shape than others and of those, JAAYIZ (best price 5-1) has the right credentials to make some sort of impression. A three-time winner in claiming company since the turn of the year, the son of Zoffany found himself in a much stronger heat at Saint-Cloud 16 days ago and although he ended up finishing just outside the money, his performance still suggests he remains in excellent heart. Towards the rear on turning for home, the four-year-old came home strongly to finish on the coat tails of the leading players and he left the impression he would have gone very close to winning if it hadn’t been for his poor draw (stall 17 of 17). Nicely housed this afternoon and back to a level where he’s very much at home, everything seemingly adds up in his favour.
River Down confirmed her wellbeing with a victory at Strasbourg the other day and is another to consider. Coming from a fair way back, the Holy Roman Emperor filly ended up winning with a little bit hand and with the first-time cheekpieces on again, career win number three could easily be forthcoming. Molly Sunshine was a surprise 40-1 winner when given an enterprising ride at Compiegne last time and now runs in the care of ex UK handler Andrew Hollinshead, so has to be of some interest.
1.50
Quite a few recent form lines from races of a similar nature and the most relevant of them could be the two three-year-old 1m handicaps run at Longchamp on the opening day of the new season.
My Charming Prince ran out a cosy winner over an 18-strong field but the pure result in black and white doesn’t do any sort of justice to the way he accomplished that victory 17 days ago. Dropped out the back door from his coffin box draw in stall 17, the son of Prince Gibraltar was still in last place as the field turned for home, but in putting in a power-packed finish inside the last two furlongs, he somehow managed to pull off an unlikely success. Looking at the form and we’ve already seen the race at the Paris track franked by the seventh-placed horse, Black Comedy, running well next time (very unlucky at La Teste De Buch) and hailing from a yard going great guns at present, Frederic Rossi’s grey should turn out to be one of the main players yet again.
In the other contest half an hour later, Tarida finished just ahead of MISS BELIEVE (best price 8-1) in a similarly big-field competitive handicap and the pair in question also make quite a bit of appeal. The former held together an amazing run of results which have seen her in the first two on each of her last six starts and now she’s back on a more favourable surface, it’s hard to see the Charm Spirit filly not going well despite a tricky wide draw.
The latter is arguably the most interesting runner in the entire field and she rates the value call of those towards the top end of the market. Similarly to My Charming Prince, the daughter of Make Believe had the worst of the draw in her particular heat, so it’s to her utmost credit that she ended up making a decent fist out of an unpromising set of circumstances. Indeed, the amount of ground she made up in the closing stages to get within two lengths of the eventual winner points towards a filly capable of running to a level beyond her current rating and from a potentially much better drawn this time around, a bold display looks extremely likely with any amount of luck in running.
The Champ, who had gone into the same contest off the back of two straight wins, had the benefit of a low draw (stall one) and a smoother run around the inside, so it’s hard to see him beating either Miss Believe or Tarida and the same comments apply to Sauzon and Charlesquint who both fell out the back of the TV.
Faithfully Man scored on his seasonal reappearance at Marseille, maintaining his recent good run of form, but that performance was on the all-weather and today’s assignment looks much tougher of paper. Chasing Gold got caught out by the combination of being upped in trip and a better class race at Cagnes-Sur-Mer last time out, but he’d previous accounted for Tarida at Pornichet so he has to have some sort of chance if repeating a similar performance.
2.20 CLAIREFONTAINE
If ever a horse deserved to win a race it has to be Kendiss and it could well be ninth time lucky for this ever-consistent filly. Runner-up no fewer than six times in eight starts, the daughter of Kendargent ended up been given way too much to do when a fast-finishing second to The Champ on the all-weather at Cagnes-Sur-Mer last time out and that was a bitter pill to swallow for her loyal supporters. Whether those who’ve had their fingers burnt in the past will be prepared to go in again at a tight price, but either way, she has the form and ability to gain an overdue success.
Away from the obvious starting point, Jenufa and AIGUIERE D'ARGENT (best price 9-2) rate the main threats and there was a good deal to like about the way they ran in a useful handicap at Longchamp 17 days ago. In a well-run and competitive affair, the former came out best of the pair finishing second to the fast-finishing My Charming Prince (runs in the 1.50) and that’s the third time in seven outings the daughter of Hunter’s Light has played the role of the bridesmaid. Faring best of those who raced up with the pace at the Paris track, another solid effort looks on the cards.
Although beaten in third that day, the latter went down as the one to take out of the race and he rates the value each-way call at the morning odds. Trapped away noted going well with two furlongs to run, the chestnut gelding failed to get out in the clear until late, but given how well he hit the line, it’s easy to draw to the conclusion he was more than a shade unlucky. The son of Excelebration had also caught the eye from a bad draw the time before on the all-weather at Chantilly, so despite still yet to win a race, he’s showing all the right signals of ending that unwanted hoodoo.
