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 Maurice de Gheest Day (S1) (Bill Esdaile)

 

 

S1-1 Class 1 Allowance

 

The most exciting horse in this field is without doubt the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained DOLAYLI who is a brother of G3 winner DILAWAR. He had an entry in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and also in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, which means his connections hold him in high regard. He didn’t run in any of these events but is unbeaten in two starts over 2,000m at Saint Cloud and ParisLongchamp and his limits are still unknown.

INTUITU is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and his early performances didn’t go unnoticed as a half-share was recently sold to OTI Management. The son of ALMANZOR is more experienced than DOLAYLI, as he has run five times already and will appreciate being dropped back to 2,000m following his fifth place in the Derby Du Languedoc, a Listed race over 2,400m. His best performance was a third place behind L’ASTRONOME in a 2,150m event and he should do well again.

ONDULEE is the only runner in this field who already has some black type to her name as she was the runner-up in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai over 2,000m. She was beaten that day in March by a G3 winner and while she hasn’t run since then, she comes from a yard in form and should be ready for this new task. Never out of the first three in four starts, she could make a real impression here.

Andre Fabre saddles MONEYMAN who won on his debut on the polytrack over 1,600m and has shown himself to be very consistent since. He has handled the step up to 2,000m really well and made waves when runner-up in an important handicap at Compiegne over 2,000m in June. On his latest start at ParisLongchamp, he met DOLAYLI who beat him by two lengths. It’s difficult to imagine he could turn the result round, but he should into a place once again.

German trainer Marcel Weiss doesn’t come to France without a chance and hence PETIT MARIN must not be ignored here. He won on his debut at Hoppegarten over 1,800m and then won a handicap 2,050m by four lengths at Krefeld. The horse that finished second that day has since won a handicap, so PETIT MARIN could spring a surprise here.

 

SELECTIONS: 1. DOLAYLI, 3. INTUITU, 6. ONDULEE & 2. PETIT MARIN

 

S1-2 Prix de Reux

 

Last year’s winner GLYCON returns to defend his crown and faces only five opponents. Jean-Claude Rouget’s 6YO returned after a three month break in June when a good third in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly over 2,400m. He had to angle off the rail in the home straight there and was never going the pace to chase down the leaders, but should be sharper for that run and this race looks to have been the plan. The form has also worked out well, with the second placing in G1 company next time and the fourth winning since.

GLYCON’s main threat on paper looks to be the progressive 5YO IRESINE. Jean-Pierre Gauvin’s son of MANDURO is lightly raced after only twelve career starts and has some strong form to his name, having beaten a good field, including GLYCON, to win the G3 La Coupe over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp last June. He returned this season with an effortless success in Listed company at Lyon Parilly over 2,400m, which has been franked with the third winning since. Recent form over this trip looks to be a significant advantage in the context of this race and he could have a bit too much pace for his rivals.

One of those who might not be suited to a drop in trip is Richard Chotard’s SKAZINO, who produced a gutsy display last time out when staying on strongly to win the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 3,100m at ParisLongchamp. This 6YO hasn’t won over 2,500m for two years, while only four of his 13 races in the last two seasons have come over this trip or shorter. He might be vulnerable especially if the ground is quicker than soft.

Andre Fabre runs two here and BOTANIK looks the most interesting of his duo. This 4YO son of GOLDEN HORN has looked progressive this season, winning twice over 2,400m and going close on his other start over 2,100m. He looked to win with plenty in hand when making all the running at ParisLongchamp in June and while this step up in class demands a good bit more, he could be capable of a big run.

Fabre’s other runner MR DE POURCEAUGNAC has run plenty of solid races in Group company but has failed to get his head in front in six starts. While he can run respectably, he looks set to come up a bit short once again at this level.

 

SELECTIONS: 5. IRESINE, 3. GLYCON, 1. SKAZINO & 2. BOTANIK

 

S1-3 Class 1 Handicap

 

A fiercely competitive field of 16 line up for this Class 1 handicap over 1,600m. Plenty of these runners have been running in Group company, including KING GOLD, who finished second in G3 Grosser Preis Von Lotto over 1,200m at Hamburg. He caught the eye with how he finished his race in Germany and is interesting now running over 1,600m for the first time in over a year. Nicolas Caullery’s 5YO was a winner over this trip at Compiegne in June 2020, so he is a confirmed miler, and he has an attractive racing weight for his return to handicap company, as well as the assistance of Christophe Soumillon in the saddle.

NOW WE KNOW won this race last year and returns off a lighter weight this time around. This son of KENDARGENT has had only two runs this season and it’s probably wise not to read too much into his ninth-place finish at Chantilly at 1,800m last time. He made up several places once getting a clear run inside the final 200m and that outing should have set him up perfectly for this.

Behind NOW WE KNOW in fourth 12 months ago was SKY POWER. A consistent performer, this 5YO has run several good races since then, including at a higher level. His three starts this season have been exclusively in pattern company, and last time out he was far from disgraced when finishing fourth in a G3 at Chantilly over 1,600m. Gavin Hernon’s runner should appreciate this return to handicapping and is another that carries less weight than in this race last year.

A winner of three of his 10 starts to date, PARCHEMIN is one of the most lightly raced in this field. Two of those wins have come in Listed company, including one over this course and distance in 2020. However, he hasn’t looked at his best since winning at ParisLongchamp in June last year and didn’t pick up most recently at Compiegne over 2,000m. This drop back in trip should suit Andre Fabre’s gelding, but the fact he has been held off lower weights in handicaps this season suggest he might find a few too good here.

The consistent CELESTIN stayed on strongly to win a handicap at ParisLongchamp over 1,600m last time, an effort that should be marked up considering he came from the rear off a slow gallop. He can run well again but might have too much weight now up in class.

 

SELECTIONS: 10. KING GOLD, 9. NOW WE KNOW, 4. SKY POWER, 3. PARCHEMIN & 2. CELESTIN

 

1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-3:   
Banker – 10. KING GOLD
Selections – 9. NOW WE KNOW, 4. SKY POWER, 3. PARCHEMIN & 2. CELESTIN
S1-4:   
Banker – 3. NAVAL CROWN
Selections – 7. ARTORIUS, 9. PERFECT POWER, 10. HARRY THREE & 5. MINZAAL

 

S1-4 Prix Maurice de Gheest

 

The highlight on the card, the 1,300m G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, looks a wide-open contest with several runners holding sound claims of taking the G1 prize.

Godolphin won this in 2020 with SPACE BLUES and their NAVAL CROWN looks to hold solid claims here. A good juvenile, the son of DUBAWI didn’t perhaps quite go on as hoped as a 3YO, winning just once. He won the G2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1,400m nicely at the start of the season, but really seems to have come alive since returning to sprinting having won the G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before then finishing runner-up in the G1 July Cup (both 1,200m) at Newmarket. Charlie Appleby’s colt should have no issues with the extra 100m here and he can go very well.

PERFECT POWER must be given another chance after a disappointing showing in the aforementioned July Cup. He’s won three G1s over 1,200m distance and just never really got into it at Newmarket (July Course). That was his first run against the older horses, so he does need to prove he can compete against them here, but he’s very talented and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

ARTORIUS has finished behind NAVAL CROWN on his last two starts at Ascot and Newmarket. The Australian sprinter put in two really good performances at those two meetings and, given he has form over longer distances back home, he could easily get closer to NAVAL CROWN here. He’s run in eight G1s in his career and has only finished off the podium on three occasions, so he rarely fails to deliver on the biggest stage.

Given the form HARRY THREE is in, it’s hard to leave him out of the selections. Clive Cox’s 3YO has won his last three over 1,200m – twice in handicaps and then when putting in a career best in the Listed Prix Kistena at Deauville last time. This is another big step up in class, but he’s improving at a rate of knots and shouldn’t be discounted.

Since winning the G2 Gimcrack Stakes in August 2020, MINZAAL has often run well without getting his head in front. He rarely runs a bad race, as shown by only finishing worse than third twice in nine career starts, and although he was down the field when finishing behind NAVAL CROWN at Ascot, he bounced back to form with a good win in Newbury’s G3 Hackwood Stakes over 1,200m last time.

 

SELECTIONS: 3. NAVAL CROWN, 7. ARTORIUS, 9. PERFECT POWER, 10. HARRY THREE & 5. MINZAAL

 

S1-5 Prix du Cercle

 

The Prix du Cercle – a Listed sprint run over 1,000m – is almost a re-run of a similar race won by BERNEUIL at Chantilly in June. He showed a neat change of pace to squeeze between rivals 300m from the winning line in that 1,000m Listed contest. Once in the clear, he stormed home from SUESA with LIVE back in fourth.

It was an impressive performance from BERNEUIL to put two lengths between himself and the runner-up, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t confirm his superiority. His easy victory in a 1,000m ParisLongchamp G3 last September showed he’s better than this level and he is clearly the one they all have to beat.

AIR DE VALSE has tremendous speed but she barely stays this 1,000m distance. She showed stacks of pace before getting overhauled by BROSTAIGH in the closing stages of a G2 over 1,000m at Chantilly in June. It was a similar story when runner-up behind A CASE OF YOU in the G1 Prix de L'Abbaye de Longchamp over 1,000m at ParisLongchamp last October. She looked sure to win when she dashed five lengths clear 200m from home, but was collared right on the line by the Irish raider.

SUESA hasn’t been at her very best this season, but she has still shown smart form. She finished a nose behind BERNEUIL when they finished second and third in a G3 over 1,000m at ParisLongchamp in May. It was a little disappointing to see her unable to match BERNEUIL in the closing stages of the Chantilly Listed race over 1,000m last month, but it was still a sound run. If she could reproduce her three-length G2 victory at Goodwood over 1,000m last season, she would have a great chance of getting one over on her old rival.

COEUR DE PIERRE hasn’t run since October but that might not stop him running well. He came home strongly to land a 1,100m Listed race at Chantilly on his penultimate run of last season in great style. His 1,100m victory at Dieppe a couple of years ago came following a seven-month break, so it would be dangerous to write off his chance purely because he hasn’t run this year.

LIVE has twice finished behind BERNEUIL and SUESA over 1,000m this season but he clearly has the ability to run well in a race of this nature.

 

SELECTIONS: 1. BERNEUIL, 4. AIR DE VALSE, 8. SUESA, 3. COEUR DE PIERRE & 2. LIVE

2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5:
Banker – 1. BERNEUIL
Selections – 4. AIR DE VALSE, 8. SUESA, 3. COEUR DE PIERRE & 2. LIVE
S1-6:
Banker – 3. HAZIYM
Selections – 4. LE CADEAU, 11. CLITHEROE, 8. AMELLATA & 1. LOUBEISIEN

 

S1-6 Prix Moonlight Cloud

 

This 1,200m Listed event could see the S.A. Aga Khan colours triumph thanks to HAZIYM who was placed third in the Prix Texanita, a G3 over 1,200m that took place in May. He looked like he was going to get second place but lost it to LE CADEAU, who reopposes, in the final strides. He then enjoyed a little break before being dropped back to Listed level when running in the Prix Kistena over 1,200m at Deauville. He produced a good performance that day but was no match for the Clive Cox-trained HARRY THREE, who just proved too strong. The opposition this time round is not quite as tough and he should come out on top here.

The Henri-Alex Pantall-trained LE CADEAU is also still looking for that elusive victory in a black type race. Since his second place in the Prix Texanita, he has also been dropped back to Listed level, albeit with less success. He has been placed third on two attempts and is lacking freshness as he has been running every four weeks since April. His class should see him finish in the first three, though.

The British raider CLITHEROE finished fourth on her last start in a Listed race over 1,377m in June. The winner of that contest has since won a G3 race at Goodwood, so the form has worked out a treat. David Simcock’s filly will be partnered by Jamie Spencer who is not going to wait around if there is no pace in the race.

Henri-Alex Pantall also saddles the improving filly AMELLATA. A winner of her maiden on her second start over 1,200m in April, she enjoyed a short break later in the spring before winning a Class 2 race over 1,200m on her mid-seasonal reappearance. She seems to be improving with each start and while she has not run in this company before, she could get into the places.

The Christophe Ferland-trained LOUBEISIEN is the highest rated horse in this field, but he hasn’t run since finishing second in the G3 Prix Djebel over 1,400m at the beginning of April. A Listed winner on the polytrack at Chantilly at the beginning of the year, no-one questions his ability, but he might be a bit rusty.

 

SELECTIONS: 3. HAZIYM, 4. LE CADEAU, 11. CLITHEROE, 8. AMELLATA & 1. LOUBEISIEN

TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 3. HAZIYM, 4. LE CADEAU & 11. CLITHEROE
S1-7: Multiple – 6. FASTER, 7. KISSWOOD & 9. NIGHT CANDLE
S1-8: Multiple – 9. MONTUSSAN, 5. MICOLEO & 4. PEDRITO

 

S1-7 3yo Fillies Handicap

 

Several of the runners in this 3YO Fillies Handicap over 1,400m have met before this season.

FASTER was unlucky when third behind SPIRITED ACCOUNT and KISSWOOD over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp last month. She was boxed in for most of the home straight and only got out when it was too late to stop the fast-finishing winner. It also didn’t help that she sat closer to the pace than ideal, so she is clearly better than the bare form of that race. She has a consistent profile this season having run to a similar level in most of her six races since winning over 1,400m at Compiegne in March.

KISSWOOD flew home from the rear when finishing just in front of FASTER over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp on her most recent run. The likes of NIGHT CANDLE (fourth), BAILEYS BELLE STAR (fifth), AZUCARERA (eighth), DREAMSTEP (11th) and KENDRA (12th) were all further back. KISSWOOD is still without a win, but she clearly has the ability to put that right when everything drops into place. A strong pace would help her jockey to get the timing right.

NIGHT CANDLE hasn’t won since joining Gina Rarick from British trainer Richard Hannon. Her fourth behind SPIRITED ACCOUNT, KISSWOOD and FASTER over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp was a return to form and she is probably better when racing a little closer to the pace than she did in that race.

LINING UP won over 1,100m at Dieppe in June, so it was disappointing to see her struggle to go the pace in a better race over 1,200m at Chantilly last month. She finished runner-up behind ARABIA over 1,400m at Saint-Cloud in April when FASTER and SLEEPY SUZY filled the next two places. That run gives her claims and a return to this distance should be a positive move but there’s little doubt plenty went her way at Saint-Cloud.

SLEEPY SUZY got going too late when fourth in that 1,400m Saint-Cloud contest. She was much happier over 1,800m when staying on strongly to win at Salon de Provence in June and even the drop to 1,600m appeared too short for her when only fifth at Vichy last month. If she gets a strong pace, she could sneak into the frame.

 

SELECTIONS: 6. FASTER, 7. KISSWOOD, 9. NIGHT CANDLE, 5. LINING UP & 1. SLEEPY SUZY

 

S1-8 Class 2 Allowance

 

The 3YO filly MONTUSSAN is an obvious choice in this 1,300m contest as she was Listed placed over 1,200m last season at La Teste de Buch. While she hasn’t succeeded in securing another place when stepped up to G3 company, her performances have still been satisfying. She has been the runner-up over this trip before and while she failed to make an impression when she ran for the first time in a handicap over 1,200m in July, she can do better.

Connections are hoping that MICOLEO justifies their decision to run him in this race rather than in a handicap. He is a winner on the polytrack of Deauville and Chantilly over 1,300m and has also been very consistent on turf. This is an opportunity for him to secure another place.

Henri-Alex Pantall is not a trainer who targets many races at Deauville, as he likes to give his horses a break in the summer, but he has supplemented PEDRITO who is usually very consistent in these types of races. The son of PEDRO THE GREAT ran over 1,400m last time out at Clairefontaine, but the race didn’t unfold as planned and he was well beaten. Now he is back over his favourite trip and surface, there is no reason why he shouldn’t produce another solid performance.

JERIMADETH won a maiden over 1,700m at La Roche-Posay on her one and only start last year. This season, she has come back in trip and produced her best run on her first attempt in a 1,400m handicap at Saint-Cloud in June. This will be a first attempt over 1,300m, but she has a lot of speed and it would be no surprise if she plays a part in the finish.

When she made her debut as a 2YO, HEALING OASIS made a great impression when winning two races on the polytrack over 1,300m and 1,400m in rapid succession. This season, she has been stepped up to 1,600m where she has proven rather disappointing, but a return to 1,300m could see her come back to form.

 

SELECTIONS: 9. MONTUSSAN, 5. MICOLEO, 4. PEDRITO, 7. JERIMADETH & 8. HEALING OASIS

 

 

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