Expert - Bill Esdaile
Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races.

Expert Column for Prix du Jockey Club (S2-2) (Bill Esdaile)

S2-2 Prix du Jockey Club

There has been plenty of rain around in the build-up to the G1 2,100m Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) so the ground looks sure to be on the soft side. English-raider FOUNDATION heads the betting on the back of a good run when third behind WINGS OF DESIRE and DEAUVILLE in the Dante Stakes at York over this trip last time. Both of those two horses run in Saturday’s English Derby, so it will be interesting to see how they fare.

FOUNDATION definitely improved from his seasonal reappearance last time and will more than likely step forward again. The one unknown is his ability to handle heavy ground as this will be the softest surface he has encountered to date.

A bigger threat to the local contingent could easily come from fellow British raider IMPERIAL AVIATOR who was supplemented for the race earlier in the week. He has won both of his starts so far this campaign and he looked particularly useful when readily beating a competitive looking field over 2,000m at Newbury last time. This will require another huge step up, but he is obviously well-regarded and is improving fast. There was cut in the ground when he beat English Derby contender ULYSSES on his seasonal reappearance, but he is another one untried on ground potentially this soft.

If the rain continues to fall then the best of the French raider could easily prove to be ROBIN OF NAVAN who won the G1 2,000m Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final start as a two-year-old on very soft ground. The more rain the better for this son of AMERICAN POST.

One runner who will all have no issues with bad ground is MEKHTAAL who was a stunning winner of the G2 2,000m Prix Hocquart at Deauville on his seasonal reappearance. He also handled heavy ground as a two-year-old and looks the one they all have to beat.

Italian raider DICTON caught the eye with a fast finishing run in the G1 1,600m Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) last time. He didn’t have much luck in running that day and there is every chance that this step up in trip will also bring about more improvement. No stranger to soft ground, he looks another leading contender.

Finally, Freddy Head’s RASEED is the final name on the shortlist having won the G3 2,100m Prix Noailles back in April. He looks to have been laid out for this race with trip, track and ground all likely to suit.

SELECTIONS: 3. MEKHTAAL, 2. RASEED, 5. ROBIN OF NAVAN & 14. DICTON

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