 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 Jacques le Marois Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)
S2-1 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club
FEED THE FLAME is yet to get his head in front this season, but he can make the most of a significant drop-in class in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club over 2,000m at Deauville. The Pascal Bary-trained 4YO has been campaigned at the highest level on three of his four starts this season including when finishing a close up second on his most recent outing behind DUBAI HONOUR in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2,400m. This will be the first time that the son of KINGMAN, who won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over 2,400m just over a year ago, has raced over 2,000m since returning a beaten favourite on his comeback in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt. With the going described as soft, which will bring his stamina into play, and his form the strongest on offer, he looks set to make a bold bid.
AL HAKEEM is likely to strip much fitter for his second in the G3 La Coupe over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp in June which was his first start in 427 days. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 5YO moved well for much of his last start before his lack of race fitness told in the closing stages. Unlike his four rivals the Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt is already a winner over course and distance having landed the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano over 2,000m back in 2022. With his reappearance behind him, and all of his best form over 2,000m, expect him to mount a serious challenge.
ELUSIVE PRINCESS made an encouraging return to action in France following a stint in America when finishing third behind SACAYA in a Listed race over 2,100m at Chantilly last month. The daughter of MARTINBOROUGH signed off her previous stint for Jean Philippe-Dubois with victory in the G3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes over 1,900m on soft ground in August last year. Although beaten in all three of her starts while in America each of those losses came on quick ground. With conditions more to her liking she can show her true colours under Mickael Barzalona, who has won two races from four starts on her.
SACAYA took her form to new levels when defeating ELUSIVE PRINCESS last time out and she will bid to prove that effort is no fluke stepping back up in class. She finished third in the G3 Premio Del Giubileo over 2,000m in Milan two starts ago, which suggests she can be competitive at this level under Theo Bachelot, who was on board for her last victory.
SELECTIONS: 3. FEED THE FLAME, 2. AL HAKEEM, 4. ELUSIVE PRINCESS & 5. SACAYA
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-1: Multiple – 3. FEED THE FLAME & 2. AL HAKEEM
S2-2: Multiple – 7. HAMLET’S NIGHT & 3. MONNA VANNA
S2-2 3yo Handicap
This 1,900m handicap for 3YOs is a very competitive event and an opportunity for MONNA VANNA to get herself back onto the podium. The daughter of MAGNA GRECIA is having her first start for trainer Mathieu Pitart who bought her after she finished second in claiming race at Vichy over 1,850m. She comes from a yard in form and with a return to the polytrack, which she likes, this very consistent filly must have a great chance.
The Andre Fabre-trained HAMLET’S NIGHT is still a maiden, which is very unusual coming from this yard. He was the runner-up in two handicaps over 1,600m in the last three months and will now run for the first time over the slightly longer trip, which might just be the key to his success. Partnered by Mickael Barzalona, who has been the leading rider in Deauville handicaps over the last couple of years, he is expected to finally deliver that elusive victory.
TROPHANE is also still a maiden, but has already proven her stamina at this distance. In fact, she has run all of her six races over trips of 1,900m to 2000m. Trained by Eric Libaud, whose yard is in great form, she has never finished out of the first three and certainly lost nothing in defeat when finishing second in a 2,000m maiden at Vichy four weeks ago. She was only beat half a length by the HH Aga Khan-owned RAYBIYA and surely must be able to run close here.
HUMAN EVOLUTION has been very consistent and if he had an inside draw, he would be one of the favourites. Coming out of stall number 16 though is not an advantage on this track and over this trip. However, he is partnered by Stephane Pasquier, who is known as the “King of handicaps” and who will surely get him in a good position. The runner-up of a major handicap over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp last month, the Pascal Bary-trained colt could run well.
GEORGIAN STAR brings a bit of class to this field, as he was last seen in a 2,100m Listed race at Saint-Cloud. The ground that day was very heavy and this big individual faded badly in the final straight. Since that last run in March, he has enjoyed a long break and a return to the polytrack, where he won his maiden over 1,900m at Chantilly in February, will suit him.
SELECTIONS: 7. HAMLET’S NIGHT, 3. MONNA VANNA, 10. TROPHANE, 12. HUMAN EVOLUTION & 5. GEORGIAN STAR
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 7. HAMLET’S NIGHT & 3. MONNA VANNA
S2-3: Multiple – 3. CHARYN & 6. INSPIRAL
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-2:
Banker – 7. HAMLET’S NIGHT
Selections – 3. MONNA VANNA, 10. TROPHANE, 12. HUMAN EVOLUTION & 5. GEORGIAN STAR
S2-3:
Banker – 3. CHARYN
Selections – 6. INSPIRAL, 7. METROPOLITAN, 8. HAATEM & 2. QUDDWAH
S2-3 Prix Jacques le Marois
The highlight of Deauville’s summer racing schedule is the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over 1,600m. You have to go back to 2017 to find the last French-trained winner AL WUKAIR and once again the home team will have to repel a host of strong overseas challengers.
History could be made by INSPIRAL, who is seeking an unprecedented hat-trick in the race, and she has to be respected despite a recent slip in form. She’s been underwhelming in two starts so far this term, firstly finishing a well-beaten fourth in the G1 Lockinge Stakes over 1,600m at Newbury and then sixth in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes over 1,993m at Royal Ascot. She was probably lacking race fitness on that first start at Newbury, while the 1,993m at Ascot turned out to be a bit too much of a stamina test and she will be suited by the step back to 1,600m. Don’t rule out a bounce back to form.
On this season’s formbook, CHARYN is right at the top of the shortlist. He took the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1,600m in impressive fashion last time out and his only defeat in four starts this campaign came when a clear second in the G1 Lockinge Stakes. He appears to be in the form of his life and should be right in the mix.
HAATEM, another British raider, is a straightforward and consistent type who can’t be ignored. His surprise victory in the G3 Craven Stakes over 1,600m was backed up by finishing third in the G1 2000 Guineas and then second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and he then got his head in front in the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Though this represents a step back up in class on paper, the Jersey Stakes was a high-class race for a G3 and he should be able to make his presence felt at this level.
If the French are to regain this prize then METROPOLITAN could be the one to do it. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over 1,600m winner outran his odds to finish third in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes over 1,594m and may have finished closer to the front two with a clearer run.
The exciting unknown quantity in this field is QUDDWAH. By the 2014 winner of this race KINGMAN and out of dual G1-winning mare SAJJHAA, he’s bred to be a contender at this level and hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. He’s won all four of his career starts, including the G2 Summer Mile Stakes over 1,594m with a bit in hand last time out, and is still improving.
SELECTIONS: 3. CHARYN, 6. INSPIRAL, 7. METROPOLITAN, 8. HAATEM & 2. QUDDWAH
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 3. CHARYN & 6. INSPIRAL
S2-4: Multiple – 3. OMBUDSMAN & 5. INVOLVEMENT
S2-4 Prix Nureyev
Last year’s Listed Prix Nureyev over 2,000m was won by Godolphin-owned runner. They are represented this year by OMBUDSMAN and it’s interesting trainers John & Thady Gosden chose to pitch him in here after only two starts. He was a good winner at Newmarket on debut over 1,600m, when beating a better fancied ARABIAN LIGHT who has gone on to win two races since. There were no moments of concern on his next start at Leicester over 2,000m, where he only had to be nudged out to the line, winning in the style of a high-class prospect. A step up is required now into Listed company, but this unbeaten colt could prove to be a class above his rivals.
INVOLVEMENT has been highly tried in handicap company this season by the Simon & Ed Crisford team. A good second at Haydock over 1,634m was followed by a seventh-place finish in the highly competitive Britannia Stakes over 1,600m at Royal Ascot. He then showed improvement once again to win at Newmarket’s July Course, where he looked strong at the finish in his first run over 2,000m. That hinted that he was well worth this step up to Listed class and, if finding further improvement, he should be involved.
SONS AND LOVERS has been campaigned solely in Listed and Group company in four runs this season, performing with great consistency. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s runner wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in the Craven Stakes over 1,600m at Newmarket on his return to action and again wasn’t beaten far at Sandown over 1,600m and Royal Ascot over 1,993m on his next two starts. Last time out under Hollie Doyle, who retains the ride, he posted what looked like a career best when beaten just 1.3 lengths into third in the Listed Steventon Stakes over 2,000m at Newbury, form that has been boosted since. On that evidence, he still looks to be improving and should run well again.
WAIKATO finished behind SOLDIER’S GOLD in the Listed Prix Ridgway over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp in June. However, that was only the Mikel Delzangles-trained colt’s fourth career start and he still looked to lack experience when trying to make all the running.
SOLIDER’S GOLD had to work hard to get past him at the finish, with WAIKATO battling on when beaten, and as a more exposed colt, he may struggle to uphold that form.
SELECTIONS: 3. OMBUDSMAN, 5. INVOLVEMENT, 4. SONS AND LOVERS, 1. WAIKATO & 7. SOLDIER’S GOLD
4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 3. OMBUDSMAN & 5. INVOLVEMENT
S2-5: Multiple – 9. MOSAIQUE & 3. GALA REAL
S2-5 Prix Minerve
MOSAIQUE brings amongst the best form into this competitive looking renewal of the G3 Prix Minerve over 2,500m. Carlos Laffon-Parias’ daughter of DUBAWI hasn’t finished out of the frame in five starts since making her debut at Saint-Cloud over 2,000m in March this year. She took her form to a new level when finishing second in the G2 Prix de Malleret over 2,400m last time out, which was an impressive effort as she was held up at the back off a slow pace and had to quicken sharply in the straight. A strong gallop over this trip should play to her strengths and on her form from last time she looks the one to beat.
Another contender with a Listed win to her name is GALA REAL. That success came over 2,200m at ParisLongchamp in May and again it was a case of a performance that could be marked up, with GALA REAL having to fly home late from the back of the field to get up on the line. She was probably found out by the steep rise in grade when pitched into the G1 Prix de Diane over 2,100m last time out and should be happier now dropped back to G3 company. She promises to stay 2,500m judging by her run style and looks to have strong prospects with Christophe Soumillon retaining the ride.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s TZAROVSKHA has already been tested at Group level. She won her second race this season when stepping up to 2,400m at Saint-Cloud and then contested the G2 Prix de Malleret, finishing behind MOSAIQUE in fourth. TZAROVSKHA was arguably best positioned at the top of the home straight, but had run keenly through the early stages of the race and her exertions told at the finish as she faded in the final 200m. She will have to settle better here over this longer trip if she is to turn form around with MOSAIQUE.
VIGATATA won both her first two starts, at Pau over 2,000m and Bordeaux le Bouscat over 1,900m, before placing in Listed company and then finishing runner-up in G3 company at Chantilly over 2,400m in June. She just edged MOSAIQUE into third on that occasion, so brings strong form and could be interesting if ready to go after a two-month break.
Andre Fabre’s FLEURS DES BOIS has won two of her three starts to date, most recently a 2,900m Class 2 race at Clairefontaine. She will have to improve now stepping into a G3, but must be respected given her connections.
SELECTIONS: 9. MOSAIQUE, 3. GALA REAL, 5. TZAROVSKHA, 8. VIGATATA & 4. FLEURS DES BOIS
5TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-5: Multiple – 9. MOSAIQUE & 3. GALA REAL
S2-6: Multiple – 5. TENDER THOUGHTS & 1. KOWALSKI
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-5:
Banker – 9. MOSAIQUE
Selections – 3. GALA REAL, 5. TZAROVSKHA, 8. VIGATATA & 4. FLEURS DES BOIS
S2-6:
Banker – 5. TENDER THOUGHTS
Selections – 1. KOWALSKI, 3. NOOTKA BAY, 7. NAXOS & 4. RUE CUSTINE
S2-6 3yo Handicap
Another competitive handicap for 3YOs over 1,900m on Deauville’s polytrack track. A key form-line could be the race TENDER THOUGHTS finished second in over this course and distance early August. Stephane Wattel’s son of TEN SOVEREIGNS travelled well through that contest and was seen waiting for room as the pace quickened. He had to be switched to the outside of the field to get a clear run, while the winner had an easier passage, and he may have won without that inconvenience, going down by less than a length at the line.
KOWALSKI has only had four career starts, and the first two of those came on Deauville’s polytrack track. They were his best runs to date, including a good second in January over 1,900m, when chasing home a rival that has gone on to place in Listed races this season. More recently he hasn’t fared so well when switched to turf for two runs at Clairefontaine over trips of 2,200m and 1,800m. However, the last of those was an effort that signalled he may be returning to form, and the switch back to the all-weather surface at Deauville might help him show his best form.
NOOTKA BAY finished fourth, only about a length behind TENDER THOUGHTS, at Deauville early August. He looked to have a nice opening up the inside rail that day but lacked the turn of foot needed to exploit it. Still a maiden after six starts, he will need to improve to take this but is well-drawn in stall 3 and should run another consistent race.
NAXOS is a lightly-raced colt who might find his feet now stepped up to this 1,900m trip. Trained by Andreas Schultz, this son of TERRITORIES is yet to win in his three career starts, all coming over 1,600m. He had showed promise at Saint-Cloud on his first two efforts, and although things didn’t go to plan next time out at Compiegne, he could do better over this longer distance.
RUE CUSTINE has more experience after 10 starts and could be in the finish today. Stephanie Nigge’s filly has largely been consistent since moving to turf, gaining a win at Saint-Cloud over 2,100m in May. After staying on for second over 1,800m at Dieppe last time, she might be ready to run a nice race stepping back up slightly in trip, if she can transfer her form to the polytrack.
SELECTIONS: 5. TENDER THOUGHTS, 1. KOWALSKI, 3. NOOTKA BAY, 7. NAXOS & 4. RUE CUSTINE
6TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-6: Multiple – 5. TENDER THOUGHTS & 1. KOWALSKI
S2-7: Multiple – 2. ADWAN & 7. OISSEL
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-6: Multiple – 5. TENDER THOUGHTS, 1. KOWALSKI & 3. NOOTKA BAY
S2-7: Multiple – 2. ADWAN, 7. OISSEL & 11. FALCON
S2-8: Multiple – 4. CREAM ICE, 2. CRACK CITY & 3. JORDAN BAKER
S2-7 Class 3 Handicap
Chantilly-based trainer Nicolas Caullery is very shrewd when it comes to running his horses in handicaps and while ADWAN was heavily penalised by the handicappers after winning at this track on 30 Jul, he should still be able to hold his own in this race. Only 100m further than last time, this distance is no issue, as he proved when he won a 1,600m handicap at Chantilly at the beginning of the year. A true specialist on the polytrack, his task here is much tougher, but not impossible.
The jury is still out if FALCON is happier on the polytrack or on turf. Although he made his debut in 2022, he has never won a race, but always gives the impression that he is definitely capable of getting himself on the podium. He finished last on his last start in a 1,600m handicap at Clairefontaine on turf, but that needs to be put down to riding tactics. This time, ridden closer to the pace, he could finally get himself that victory that has so far eluded him.
OISSEL is known for his exploits on the southern coast of France. A regular at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, he consistently runs on the all-weather tracks where he has won and been placed several times over the years.
This winter though, he failed to make any kind of impact and was subsequently given three months off. And that seemed to work like a dream as he won a 1,600m handicap at Chantilly on his return in May and recently finished second in a 1,400m handicap on turf at Strasbourg. He has again had a little break since that start in June and comes here with some freshness that should stand him in good stead.
THREE DREAMS is one of the top-weights in this handicap but should still be very competitive. Partnered once more by Mickael Barzalona, who also rode him last time out at Vichy over 1,400m, he is once again drawn wide in 14. However, drawn in stall 13 at Vichy, it didn’t stop him from finishing a close third and another good performance is expected here.
SULTAN OF SWING is also drawn wide in 11 but the Markus Geisler-trained horses have been performing well in Deauville this summer and he could spring a surprise here. His last two starts in a 1,400m handicap and a 1,600m claiming race produced below par performances and his trainer will be hoping that a return to the polytrack can rejuvenate him.
SELECTIONS: 2. ADWAN, 7. OISSEL, 11. FALCON, 1. THREE DREAMS & 8. SULTAN OF SWING
7TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-7: Multiple – 2. ADWAN & 7. OISSEL
S2-8: Multiple – 4. CREAM ICE & 2. CRACK CITY
S2-8 Class 3 Handicap
CREAM ICE comes into this 1,500m all-weather handicap in good form. She was delivered with a well-timed challenge to land a 1,600m Nantes handicap last month without being put under maximum pressure. There was nothing wrong with her solid second in the race over 1,850m at Vichy two weeks later when the ordinary pace didn’t really play to her strengths. The switch to today’s artificial surface shouldn’t be a problem, as she was successful on Chantilly’s polytrack over 2,100m in 2022.
CRACK CITY recorded his only career victory over this course and distance last December. He seems at his best on Deauville’s all-weather track and he returned to form at this course when third over 1,400m here a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t a help that he was forced to challenge further towards the inside than ideal after weaving his way through the pack. If he gets the breaks, he could go even closer.
JORDAN BAKER has four career wins to his name, with the most recent of those coming over this course and 1,500m distance last December. He has finished runner-up in five of his 12 subsequent starts and his close third over 1,400m at Mont-De-Marsan last month, when he stayed on strongly in the closing stages, showed he’s still in good form. A decent pace would play into his hands.
TOSCANE TEMPLE was forced to challenge widest of all when staying on into fifth in a 1,600m handicap at Nantes last month. She’d earlier finished narrowly in front of CREAM ICE when storming home with her customary late run over 1,800m at Morlaix. Her two career victories from 16 runs show she is capable when she gets a strong pace to aim at.
UN PLUS UNE is still searching for his first win after 32 starts but he tends to run his race in this sort of contest.
He charged home after getting held up in traffic to snatch third over 1,400m on his last visit to Deauville’s all-weather track in April. The extra 100m of this race promises to suit and he could be one of those staying on into the frame.
SELECTIONS: 4. CREAM ICE, 2. CRACK CITY, 3. JORDAN BAKER, 7. TOSCANE TEMPLE & 1. UN PLUS UNE
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