 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 Poule d'Essai des Poulains Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)
S2-1 Class 3 Handicap
In this 1,400m Class 3 handicap, being drawn on the inside is a definite advantage and Chantilly-based trainer Nicolas Caullery will be very pleased that CITY OF HOPE has drawn stall number seven. In fact, he blames an outside draw for CITY OF HOPE’S last performance in a 1,600m handicap at Saint-Cloud. In that race, he was forced to travel at the back of the field and while he came flying up the final straight, it was too late. Not only has he been lucky with the draw this time, but he will also appreciate the drop back in trip.
PLANTHALYA likes to be held up and come from behind. She started her season very early, but that is the case with most of her opponents. She could go in any ground, although she might have a slight preference for a soft surface. However, she is more than capable of picking up another handicap and should go well.
The 2,100m trip on his last start proved a step too far for STORMY AIR, but anything between 1,400m and 1,600m is right up his alley. Trained by Edouard Monfort, he has been consistent throughout his career and won a handicap over 1,400m last year at Vichy. He will be partnered by Mickael Barzalona, who rode him to that victory last year and although he is drawn on the outside, he still must have a great opportunity to renew the partnership with success.
In handicaps that allowance can go a long way, as proved RED NUDE ROUGE, who won her first handicap this season when she was partnered by Maryline Eon. She should be able to be competitive once more.
The very consistent MY FLINDERS will also appreciate returning to the shorter distance. Unfortunately though, she has been drawn wide in 17 and with a preference for softer conditions, her jockey Hugo Boutin will have to get everything right if she wants to get to the front. However, it would be no surprise to see her run well.
SELECTIONS: 9. CITY OF HOPE, 5. PLANTHALYA, 2. STORMY AIR, 12. RED NUDE ROUGE & 8. MY FLINDERS
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-1: Multiple – 9. CITY OF HOPE & 5. PLANTHALYA
S2-2: Multiple – 6. MY FANCY & 9. NEPALAIS
S2-2 Class 2 Handicap
A big field are set to line up for this competitive Class 2 handicap over 2,000m.
MY FANCY looks the pick on form, having finished a close third in a strong handicap on the polytrack over 1,900m at Deauville last time. That was his first attempt beyond 1,800m, and while he was run down at the finish, he battled on well and it looks as though this further step up in trip should suit. The form of that race has worked out well too, with the second placed horse going on to win a good handicap since. If in the same form, he should have every chance.
The Fabrice Chappet-trained NEPALAIS also caught the eye when finishing strongly behind MY FANCY at Deauville. He was given a patient ride in the rear of the field but made up good late ground into sixth at the finish. A winner over this trip of 2,000m at Lyon Parilly last summer, he has been kept to slightly shorter trip since and a return to this distance could bring about further improvement, with Cristian Demuro in the saddle.
It has to be of interest that trainer Francis-Henri Graffard pitches DALMANNDI into a race like this on only his fourth career start. He won a maiden over 2,650m impressively at Chateaubriant last August and made his return this season in a Class 2 handicap at Lyon Parilly. He tracked the leader on that occasion, and while he faded early in the straight, he kept going and wasn’t beaten far in fifth. It’s likely he needed that run, and should strip fitter now. While he’s dropping back in trip here, if given a positive ride by Stephane Pasquier, then he should go well.
OLYMPIC MESSAGE is capable at this level, having won a Class 2 handicap at Cagnes-Sur-Mer over 2,000m in February. On the back of a break, he was never sighted on his last run at Lyon La Soie, but it’s likely he needed that run and should be in peak fitness now. A return to this trip will suit him too, and despite running off top-weight in the handicap here, he should be more competitive now.
Completing the selections is HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS, who comes here in good form having won well in a Class 3 handicap at Saint-Cloud over 2,400m recently. This is a step up in class and a drop in trip but judged on his form from last time, he could well hit the frame.
SELECTIONS: 6. MY FANCY, 9. NEPALAIS, 4. DALMANNDI, 1. OLYMPIC MESSAGE & 15. HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 6. MY FANCY & 9. NEPALAIS
S2-3: Multiple – 8. ROMANTIC STYLE & 9. ROCK’N SWING
S2-3 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Charlie Appleby looks to have solid claims of securing a first victory in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches with ROMANTIC STYLE. The daughter of NIGHT OF THUNDER made light work of testing conditions to make a winning return to action in the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville last month on her first start at 1,400m. The form of that race was given a significant boost on Sunday after the runner-up finished third in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. With soft conditions no issue for her, and with a step up in trip to suit, she looks set to run a big race, despite a wide draw in gate 14.
ROCK’N SWING maintained her unbeaten record when taking a step up in trip in her stride in similar conditions over course and distance of her last race. While the draw in gate 12 could have been kinder, she looks set to run well in her bid to give legendary French trainer Andre Fabre a fourth win in the race. Although the least experienced in the field having had just two runs, she appears to be improving rapidly.
George Boughey sent out CACHET to finish second in the 2022 renewal and CHIC COLOMBINE appears another serious candidate for the Newmarket handler. After climbing the ranks last season, she saw out the 1,600m well on her return to action in testing conditions in the Listed Prix la Camargo at Saint-Cloud in March to set her up perfectly for her G1 debut where she will have her optimum conditions.
There are no stamina concerns for FOLGARIA who will revert back to 1,600m after making a winning stable debut for Marco Botti in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury. The form of that race has worked out well with the horse who finished third, ELMALKA, subsequently landing the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. With very soft ground, and racing around the bend, expected to suit her, a bold show appears likely from gate six.
LOUISE PROCTER falls short of some of her rivals on form, however she rates as a potential improver for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who will be bidding to win the race for a sixth time. Although with stamina to prove over 1,600m the daughter of SIYOUNI appeared not to be stopping on her most recent start over 1,400m when maintaining her unbeaten record in a Class 1 3YO contest at Chantilly in March, and she could step up again.
SELECTIONS: 8. ROMANTIC STYLE, 9. ROCK’N SWING, 10. CHIC COLOMBINE, 13. FOLGARIA & 15. LOUISE PROCTER
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 8. ROMANTIC STYLE & 9. ROCK’N SWING
S2-4: Multiple – 10. HENRY LONGFELLOW & 11. EBEN SHADDAD
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 8. ROMANTIC STYLE, 9. ROCK’N SWING & 10. CHIC COLOMBINE
S2-4: Multiple – 10. HENRY LONGFELLOW, 11. EBEN SHADDAD & 5. RAMADAN
S2-5: Multiple – 5. DARE TO DREAM, 4. BIRTHE & 6. WAR CHIMES
S2-4 Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The draw is crucial in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains run over 1,600m. Only one of the last 10 winners have raced from higher than stall eight.
Aidan O’Brien’s HENRY LONGFELLOW has drawn gate six. He was a star juvenile in Ireland last season and he promises to be even better this year. His unbeaten record of three Curragh races, included an impressive victory in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes over 1,400m. He’s likely to stay much further than this 1,600m distance but he has a stack of class. As a DUBAWI son of dual Classic winner MINDING, he also has a superb pedigree.
EBEN SHADDAD pulled a bit too hard for his own good when runner-up behind HAATEM in the G3 Craven Stakes over 1,600m at Newmarket on his first start of the season. The winner went on to finish third in last week’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, so the form looks pretty solid. John & Thady Gosden’s runner finished third behind champion juvenile CITY OF TROY in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes on his final start of last season and should take a decent step forward from his return to action.
RAMADAN didn’t quite stay 2,000m on testing ground when fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final start of last season. His form this year has been even better. He made a successful comeback in a three-runner Saint-Cloud Listed race before making all the running to beat BEAUVATIER in a G3 at ParisLongchamp last month. If he can grab a prominent position from stall five he should make his stamina count.
BEAUVATIER has a chance of turning the tables on RAMADAN but stall 10 is not a help. He couldn’t quite reel in his race-fit rival when beaten just 0.8 lengths in a ParisLongchamp G3 over 1,600m on his return to action last month. This race is likely to be run at a faster temp and should set up better for him.
METROPOLITAN was unable to get into the race when fifth of six behind RAMADAN in a ParisLongchamp G3 over 1,600m last month. That race wasn’t run to suit his hold-up style and he should have a stronger pace to aim at in this contest run over the same course and distance.
SELECTIONS: 10. HENRY LONGFELLOW, 11. EBEN SHADDAD, 5. RAMADAN, 4. BEAUVATIER & 6. METROPOLITAN
4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 10. HENRY LONGFELLOW & 11. EBEN SHADDAD
S2-5: Multiple – 5. DARE TO DREAM & 4. BIRTHE
S2-5 Prix Saint-Alary
A small field of quality 3YO fillies arrive for the G2 Prix Saint-Alary.
Top-rated DARE TO DREAM looks a likely candidate for this race, having tallied up two wins and a place from her four career starts. Last seen winning the G3 Prix Vanteaux over 1,800m very well in testing conditions a month ago, she should be able to step up in class here and can handle soft ground well if she has to. She will have no trouble with a slight step up in distance and looks to have a very good chance.
Also a winner last time out, BIRTHE could improve to be in contention here. Winning a Listed race over 2,100m at Toulouse in her last start when stepping up into that class for the first time. She should be able to handle conditions, and has never finished out of the placings in her four career starts, so can make the grade here once again.
British-based trainer David Menuisier sends WAR CHIMES into the mix, having won a Listed race over 1,800m on heavy ground at Chantilly by a very impressive margin last year. She was last seen when placed in the G3 Prix Cleopatre over 2,100m three weeks ago so, like BIRTHE, is proven to stay the distance and, if taking a step forward here, should be a serious contender. She holds entries for some top-class races, so connections clearly like her and she should be a factor here.
ALMARA has more racecourse experience than some of her rivals and returned this year in good style at this track when finishing second to DARE TO DREAM last month over 1,800m. That was her first try at Group level and she fared very well in testing ground, so she could improve if getting easier ground here. A slight step up in distance to 2,000m should pose no problems and this very capable filly could be at the front end again here.
SURVIE, who finished third behind DARE TO DREAM and ALMARA in the G3 Prix Vanteaux, won both her races last year on the polytrack and is an interesting contender, especially if the ground is less testing this time. She had a tricky journey last time from a difficult draw and should find things easier from a lower numbered gate this time.
SELECTIONS: 5. DARE TO DREAM, 4. BIRTHE, 6. WAR CHIMES, 2. ALMARA & 1. SURVIE
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