Good card at Deauville with three Group 3 races and a Group 1 contest. Plenty UK interest into the bargain.
The Prix Rothschild is the highlight and Newmarket Guineas heroine Mother Earth is favourite for the mile contest. Most recently seen in the Falmouth on good to firm ground, the form could not have worked out much better with 3rd and 4th Alcohol Free and Lady Bowthorpe both winning next time. Falmouth winner Snow Lantern was only 3rd on the softer surface, with Alcohol Free getting revenge in the Sussex. Mother Earth will face softer ground this time.
Primo Bacio was my selection last time she ran, which was also in the Falmouth. I thought she was given a lot to do from the back that day and she met with interference, running on when it was too late. Prior to that run she had seemed to be on the up and it's worth considering that she was only a neck and a half length away from Alcohol Free that day. She started the season rated 79 and is now on 112, so that is a big improvement over the course of three months. Ground with soft in the description is an unknown for the Walker trained filly but the stable are cooking by gas on 8/24 and 33% this past fortnight.
Coeursamba won the French Guineas but that looked a flash in the pan to me and even the trainer was stunned by that win.
Tahlie has won her last four races and landed a Group 2 narrowly last time. She's progressing but needs to come forward further here.
German Guineas winner Novemba is interesting, She went on to be fourth in the Coronation Stakes behind Alcohol Free. Only a half length behind today's favourite Mother Earth that day, the most obvious question is did she get as close because of the heavy ground or despite it? It was good to soft when she romped home by more than seven lengths in the German Classic.
The older girls do not feature in the forefront of the betting and I think the 3YO's will dominate this race.
Aidan O'Brien is on a 3/40 run this past fortnight and that is well below par for him. In contrast Ed Walker is banging them in and I prefer Primo Bacio here. 7/2 is a bit short though, given the ground is an unknown. Novemba ties in with the best mile fillies of her generation and the going is not an issue. I think she is well overpriced at 8/1 given that she is second top rated on RPR figures, just a 1lb behind the favourite.
2.00 Deauville Novemba 8/1
Novemba/Primo Bacio RF