 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 Rothschild Day (S1) (Bill Esdaile)
S1-1 Prix Six Perfections
British-trained 2YOs usually hold an advantage over the French trained 2YOs at this time of the year.
Pascal Bary's TERRESTRIAL was the runner-up on her last start, albeit in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over course and distance. TERRESTRIAL was pitched against the colts last time and was only beaten a short head by BREIZH SKY. She gets the 1,400m really well, looked very professional on only her third start.
SYDNEYARMS CHELSEA, trained by Charlie Hills in the UK, created a bit of a surprise when finishing fifth in the G3 Albany Stakes over 1,200m at Royal Ascot and was expected to run well again in the aforementioned Listed Prix Roland de Chambure behind TERRESTRIAL. After being a bit keen at the start, her jockey Hollie Doyle tried to settle her at the back of the field and while she made a valiant effort in the final 200m, she never threatened. She should have learned from that experience, though, and is bound to be more professional this time round.
The French-trained GAIN IT is unbeaten in two starts and already looks ultra-professional. Ridden from the front in a conditions race over 1,400m at Saint-Cloud two weeks ago, she was never in danger and won the race under hands and heels by seven lengths. This is obviously a step up in class for the daughter of DE TREVILLE and GAGARINA, but she should be able to handle without any problems.
The Yann Barberot-trained SEA THE LADY is also unbeaten in two starts, both times showing a really good attitude, and there has been plenty of talk about her in Deauville where she is trained. On her last start at Le Lion D'angers over 1,400m, she won just as easily as GAIN IT did at Saint-Cloud and it will be interesting to see which one of the two has progressed the most since their last start.
SELECTIONS: 4. TERRESTRIAL, 1. SEA THE LADY, 9. GAIN IT & 2. SYDNEYARMS CHELSEA
S1-2 Prix de Cabourg
It is 24 years since Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien won the G3 Prix de Cabourg over 1,200m for the only time, but he looks to have an excellent chance of landing this prize with THE ANTARCTIC. He's a brother of top-class sprinter BATTAASH and showed a load of speed when winning his first two races – both over 1,000m – at Tipperary and Naas in the spring. A trip to Royal Ascot for the 1,000m G2 Norfolk Stakes did not go to plan and he seemed to appreciate the step up to 1,200m when chasing home stablemate BLACKBEARD in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly a couple of weeks ago. That's good form and he can be ridden more prominently now he has proved his stamina for this distance.
WOOTTON CITY won her first two races over 1,200m at Marseille Borely. She overcame the drop to 1,000m to land a Chantilly Listed contest, when SIVANA was back in fourth, to stretch her unbeaten run to three victories. SIVANA got her revenge in a 1,000m Deauville Listed race last month, but WOOTTON CITY will be much happier returned to 1,200m and she should come out on top over this longer distance.
GOOD GUESS made a winning debut over 1,100m at Chantilly in June. He had little trouble following up in a stronger race over 1,200m at Chantilly last month when he was well on top in the closing stages. The early pace wasn't strong and he did well to pull clear of his rivals. He is the type to keep on getting better and he should be able to be competitive at this level.
SIVANA showed good speed to get the better of WOOTTON CITY in that 1,000m Deauville Listed event. She is clearly a useful filly but needs to prove she is as effective over this longer distance on her first try at 1,200m.
British raider KERINDIA made a successful debut over 1,007m at Nottingham last month. She came from off the pace and that's not easy to do at that course. The change of speed she showed to pass some more experienced horses was quite impressive and the step up to 1,200m shouldn't be a problem.
SELECTIONS: 3. THE ANTARCTIC, 9. WOOTTON CITY, 4. GOOD GUESS, 8. SIVANA & 10. KERINDIA
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-2:
Banker – 3. THE ANTARCTIC
Selections – 9. WOOTTON CITY, 4. GOOD GUESS, 8. SIVANA & 10. KERINDIA
S1-3:
Banker – 1. PIETER DE HOOCH
Selections – 5. EYE LOVE YOU, 6. MILORD L'ARSOUILLE, 3. BAMBAGIA & 4. MORTELLE ADELE
S1-3 3yo Handicap
PIETER DE HOOCH won a maiden at Pornichet over 2,400m in March when appearing to see out the trip strongly. In two handicap starts since he hasn't been far away and his last run over 2,100m at ParisLongchamp hinted that his turn to win was close. Andre Fabre's colt had to weave a passage between rivals in the home straight and closed all the way to the line to finish a narrow second, giving hope that a return to further would suit. Now back up in trip, this son of ECTOT could be capable of going one better.
Another runner that should be suited to stepping up in distance is Richard Chotard's EYE LOVE YOU after finishing strongly for second over 2,100m at Saint-Cloud last time. The third placed horse has come out and won since, giving the form a solid look to it. This filly made her debut in a strong maiden at Chantilly over 2,400m in May and proved that she is feasibly weighted on her handicap debut last time.
MILORD L'ARSOUILLE caught the eye with how well he travelled into contention at Compiegne over 2,800m recently. He made significant ground up from the back of the field there and looked set to challenge only for his effort to flatten out inside the final 400m. A son of OLYMPIC GLORY, this slight drop in trip might suit him and if he can travel as well as last time, he should play a part in the finish.
It looked a reasonable Clairefontaine 2,200m handicap that BAMBAGIA finished sixth in last time and the form has worked out with two horses that finished ahead of her going on to win since. Whether this step up in trip is what she needs remains to be seen, but she has been consistent since winning on handicap debut at Fontainebleau over 2,200m in April and should once again give her running.
MORTELLE ADELE broke her maiden at the fifth time of asking at Aix-les-Bains over this trip of 2,500m. Given a confident ride on that occasion, she was brought three-wide into the home turn and then got racing a long way out, pulling clear of the field with a persistent rival. Her rider dropped his whip at the top of the home straight, but this daughter of BRAMETOT still kept on resolutely to score. That form is difficult to weight up, but she looks capable of running well on handicap debut over a distance that suits.
SELECTIONS: 1. PIETER DE HOOCH, 5. EYE LOVE YOU, 6. MILORD L'ARSOUILLE, 3. BAMBAGIA & 4. MORTELLE ADELE
S1-4 Prix Rothschild
This year's G1 Prix Rothschild run over 1,600m looks an intriguing affair with plenty having interesting profiles.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien has won this twice since 2017, including with MOTHER EARTH last year, and he saddles TENEBRISM this time around. The daughter of CARAVAGGIO looked a filly of serious talent when surging through the field to win the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes over 1,200m on just her second start last September – a performance which saw her go off for favourite for the G1 1000 Guineas over this 1,600m trip on her next outing. She didn't really handle the undulations of Newmarket that day and finished down the field, while she ran well enough in the G1 Coronation Stakes over 1,594m subsequently. However, she was much better when dropped to 1,400m in the G1 Prix Jean Prat last time, so it's a bit of a negative she goes back up trip here.
While the trip is a concern for TENEBRISM it certainly isn't for SAFFRON BEACH. The 4YO is one of the most consistent horses around and her dominant performance under a penalty in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over 1,600m at Royal Ascot last time was a career best. A repeat of that would make her very tough to beat and she's a leading contender to land her second G1 prize.
PEARLS GALORE could run well here. The daughter of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT is enjoying a fine 2022, winning twice over 1,600m, including the G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes. She didn't run too badly when second to ORDER OF AUSTRALIA last time in a G2 at the Curragh over 1,400m and the step back up in distance looks sure to suit.
Francis-Henri Graffard won this in 2020 with WATCH ME and his MALAVATH has a chance here. She was a good winner of the G3 Prix Imprudence over 1,400m on her seasonal reappearance, and it was impressive enough to see her go off a relatively short price for the aforementioned 1000 Guineas. Graffard's challenger ran below par there, but she didn't look at home on the track and it's a run that is best ignored. She was a bit disappointing subsequently in a G3 Prix du Palais-Royal over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp, but she would be a player if she returned to her best.
The placings can be completed by SIBILA SPAIN. She finished a distant last in the G1 Falmouth Stakes last time but is talented and could go well if back on song.
SELECTIONS: 3. SAFFRON BEACH, 7. TENEBRISM, 2. PEARLS GALORE, 6. MALAVATH & 5. SIBILA SPAIN
S1-5 Prix du Carrousel
SHINE FOR YOU has been supplemented for this first long distance race over 3,000m of the summer meeting at Deauville. Trained by Stephane Cerulis, the 4YO daughter of SIYOUNI was a very consistent performer in a Listed races over 2,000m last year. Stepped up to 2,800m on her second start this season in a Listed race, she finished a competitive fifth and it will be interesting to see how she does over this longer trip.
Legendary trainer Andre Fabre is not necessarily known for training stayers, but he has enjoyed lining up JOIE DE SOIR in the longer distance races at ParisLongchamp and Chantilly this season. A daughter of FASTNET ROCK and HIGHEST EVER, the 4YO filly has been incredibly consistent over this trip in all of her four starts this year. She has been the runner-up in two Listed races over 3,000m, in one G2 over 3,100m and also came third in a G3 over 3,100m. All she needs now is a victory and this race at Deauville looks like it could be it.
Fabre also saddles the 4YO TIDES OF WAR, who started to make himself a name in long distance races at the end of last season with a second in the G3 Prix de Lutece over 3,000m and a third in the G2 Prix Chaudenay. He didn't run for over nine months after that but his seasonal reappearance in a 2,400m Conditions race at the beginning of July was very encouraging. Back over his favourite trip, he is bound to play a part in the finish.
GOYA SENORA on the other hand, has already made the transition from middle-distance horse to stayer. He enjoyed his first start over 3,000m at Chantilly this spring where he finished a credible fifth. Since then, he has produced consistently good performances and won a major handicap at Compiegne over 2,800m where he gave plenty of weight to the runner-up and third placed horse. Deauville is his home track and it would not be a surprise if he made a good impression here.
MEDIA STORM beat BIG CALL when they met last time in Spain over 2,500m and he will be hoping for a repeat performance. He was only stepped up in trip for the first time in May when he was the runner-up behind OR GRIS in a Conditions race over 2,800m at ParisLongchamp. He wasn't beaten far that day and in ground that he likes, he could run well again.
SELECTIONS: 10. JOIE DE SOIR, 1. GOYA SENORA, 6. TIDES OF WAR, 9. SHINE FOR YOU & 2. MEDIA STORM
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5:
Banker – 10. JOIE DE SOIR
Selections – 1. GOYA SENORA, 6. TIDES OF WAR, 9. SHINE FOR YOU & 2. MEDIA STORM
S1-6:
Banker – 3. TOIJK
Selections – 10. TWO THANK YOUS, 11. ROMANTIC MOON, 8. CHOP VAL & 13. BOCCIATORE
S1-6 Class 3 Handicap
This 1,300m handicap doesn't appear to be as strong as the second division but TOIJK appears to be running into form. He hasn't been helped by poor draws in recent starts. His fifth over 1,400m at Saint-Cloud was much better than it looked as he was forced wide in the early stages which meant he had to try to come from further back than ideal. He again had an unhelpful stall when third behind INDYCO over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp in June. That was his first run for three months, so he should be sharper for this race.
TWO THANK YOUS has plenty of winning form to her name. She recorded her fourth career victory when making most of the running over 1,400m at Clairefontaine last month. There was a lot to like about her attitude, as she battled back to lead close home having been headed 200m from the winning post. If she's able to get to the lead without much effort, she will not be easy to pass.
ROMANTIC MOON showed an impressive finishing burst of speed to come from off the pace to win well over 1,400m at Dax in May. That might not have been the strongest of races and she probably ran even better when fourth behind INDYCO in the 1,400m ParisLongchamp contest TOIJK finished third in. That was an excellent effort considering she didn't see much daylight down the straight and only got going when the winner had flown.
CHOP VAL was given too much to do when only seventh over 1,400m at Saint-Cloud when last seen in May. He got the strong pace he likes when swooping late from off the pace to win over 1,600m on Chantilly's polytrack in March. His 1,100m victory at La Teste de Buch last summer shows he has no problem with turf or this 1,300m distance. He just needs the leaders to set a strong pace in the early stages.
BOCCIATORE has a frustrating habit of starting slowly. He flew home from the rear to finish runner-up behind PARIGI over 1,600m at Chantilly early last month. Missing the break by five lengths gave him little chance when returned to Chantilly over 1600m two weeks later and he did well to finish third – beaten just two lengths – behind LETTY'S MARVEL. He has the speed for this 1,300m if he breaks on terms.
SELECTIONS: 3. TOIJK, 10. TWO THANK YOUS, 11. ROMANTIC MOON, 8. CHOP VAL & 13. BOCCIATORE
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 3. TOIJK, 10. TWO THANK YOUS & 11. ROMANTIC MOON
S1-7: Multiple – 5. CHEF D'ORCHESTRE, 4. VITARE & 13. NO NIKI NO
S1-8: Multiple – 5. SCHOONER RIDGE, 2. HOT SPOT & 11. TORPEN
S1-7 Class 3 Handicap
CHEF D'ORCHESTRE arrives at this competitive 1,300m Class 3 Handicap in great form. He breezed home over 1,350m at Angers in May when he made all the running before pulling clear down the straight for an impressive victory. Last month's Argentan win over 1,300m was even more impressive. He again set the pace and then just pulled clear to win by four and a half lengths in the style of a rapidly-improving horse. If he's allowed to get to the front early on, he will not be easy to pass.
VITARE came home powerfully to win over 1,300m on Deauville's polytrack in December. He has no problem with turf racing, as he showed when third over 1,400m at Compiegne last month. It looked like he might hold on when hitting the final 200m, but he had probably sat closer to the early pace than ideal and was just run down near to the finish. He's had two runs since enjoying a six-month break, so he should be spot on for this race.
NO NIKI NO has a really likeable attitude. She put that will to win to good use when successful over 1,300m at Saint-Cloud in June and backed it up with a sloid effort when third behind CHEF D'ORCHESTRE over 1,300m at Argentan 10 days later. The way she made the running and then battled on well to see off all the challengers in the closing stages of a big-field Clairefontaine handicap over 1,400m last week was most pleasing. She is really tough and won't go down without a fight.
ON THE SEA has a consistent profile. He hasn't won for a couple of years, but he couldn't have gone much closer to snapping that losing run when a fast-finishing runner-up behind AVRILOMANOIR over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp in June. The winning distance was just a head and the likely decent pace should help ON THE SEA.
ESTACITY got the better of a thrilling finish to win over 1,200m at Les Sables-D'Olonne in June. The drop to 1,100m was against him at Chateaubriant last time out but he still ran well to finish second behind NOELLE. He just lacked the pace of the winner in the final 200m and he should be much happier returned to this longer distance.
SELECTIONS: 5. CHEF D'ORCHESTRE, 4. VITARE, 13. NO NIKI NO, 3. ON THE SEA & 10. ESTACITY
S1-8 Class 2 Handicap
HOT SPOT, who is effective on both turf and the polytrack, won this race last year off a similar handicap mark. Following an attempt in a Listed race over 1,900m this season where he simply didn't stay, he has won a handicap over 1,500m at Tarbes before once more finding 1,600m at La Teste de Buch slightly too long to his liking. He has run only four times this season, which suggests that his connections have kept him fresh with this race in mind.
The same goes for SCHOONER RIDGE who has only had one run this season. Trained by Nicolas Clement, the 4YO filly had a busy end of the season last year when she started to run in handicaps over 1,400m and 1,300m on turf and the polytrack. This year, she has only had one run in a 1,400m race at Compiegne where she finished third behind CAP. Her trainer is adept at placing his horses in handicaps and this filly should be very competitive.
If SCHOONER RIDGE is consistent, the opposite is true with TORPEN. However, on a good day, the 5YO gelding of ORPEN is more than capable of producing a solid performance. He usually runs twice at Deauville during the summer meeting and while he inevitably puts in one bad run, the other generally produces a place or even a victory. He was last seen finishing seventh in a handicap at ParisLongchamp where 1,600m proved too far for him and he will enjoy coming back to his favourite trip of 1,300m.
Trainer Anastasia Wattel is based in Deauville and she is currently enjoying a great season. Her horses are all running up to form and while SIXNTWOTHREES did not see a racecourse for nearly a year, her last two starts showed that she certainly has lost nothing of her ability. Runner-up on her reappearance at Moulins, she then finished fifth to OZAN in a conditions race at Compiegne, both races were 1,400m. There is no doubt that the best is yet to come.
RAYSTEVE recently changed yards but continues to be aimed at Class 2 Handicaps over 1,300m. He produced his best performance towards the end of last year when he beat MAGIC VATI in a 1,300m handicap on the polytrack at Chantilly. Since then, he has struggled to make an impact, but he has come down the handicap and seems in good form.
SELECTIONS: 5. SCHOONER RIDGE, 2. HOT SPOT, 11. TORPEN, 12. RAYSTEVE & 7. SIXNTWOTHREES
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