 Expert - Bill Esdaile | |
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| 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
It invariably pays to follow Andre Fabre when we face a classic puzzle in France, and the 24-time champion trainer is oozing confidence over the chance of PERSIAN KING giving him a fifth victory in the 2,100m G1 Prix du Jockey Club on his local track, Chantilly. Fabre has celebrated big winners all over the world, so when he waxes lyrical about PERSIAN KING and compares him favourably with LOPE DE VEGA, whom he trained to pull off the French Guineas-Derby double in 2010, we all sit up and take notice. PERSIAN KING, who beat subsequent G1 2000 Guineas Stakes hero MAGNA GRECIA over 1,600m at Newmarket last season, has won his last five races and took the leap in class in his stride when toughing it out over 1,600m in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp last month. Fabre, delighted that the ground will ride fast, points out that the colt’s dam won over 2,000m so does not envisage the extra distance being a problem.
Closer pursuers in the betting are British challenger RAISE YOU and Freddy Head’s MOTAMARRIS, but both are dipping their toes into deeper waters for the first time.
RAISE YOU made all when winning a Listed race over 2,000m at Newmarket last month, but Andrew Balding thinks this trip will be his limit, and there are no hiding places in classics.
KICK ON, seventh in the G1 2000 Guineas Stakes, could improve for going up in trip, but best of the three Brits could be SURFMAN, who lived up to his glowing reputation when finishing third to TELECASTER in what looked a hot G2 Dante Stakes at York over 2,051m.
MOTAMARRIS, unraced at two, has quickly made up for lost time, being unbeaten in three starts in his second season, but it was soft ground when he brushed aside two opponents over 2,100m here last time and it remains to be seen whether he will cope with these faster conditions.
Aidan O’Brien has never won this race, but CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, who looks the best of his trio, won over 2,015m at Epsom last time and, being a full brother to middle-distance super-star HIGHLAND REEL, is sure to relish this longer trip.
SLALOM, Fabre’s second-string, and the improving SOTTSASS both lack the necessary experience, as does ZARKALLANI, who only won a week ago at ParisLongchamp.
SELECTIONS: 6. PERSIAN KING, 9. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 15. SURFMAN, 11. KICK ON & 1. ZARKALLANI
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