There has been some waffle written (in the Racing Post, for example) about the hindrance of a high draw in the Prix Du Jockey Club that is not borne out by the statistics. The statistic that does matter is that since the race was reduced to ten furlongs, only Shamardal has exported it. The race does not have the prestige of the Blue Riband so the better British and Irish horses venture to Epsom.
The key form lines here come from Longchamp: Free Port Lux floored Adelaide in the Prix Hocquart over this trip on the same card that saw three of the field clash in the Poule dâEssai des Poulains, where Galiway disappointed (and it is hard to see the trip helping him reverse form with the first two) although there have to be some doubts about the extra distance for winner Karakontie and close runner-up Prestige Vendome.
The favourite with the British bookies in Jean-Claude Rougetâs Prince Gibraltar, a facile winner of the Prix Greffuhle with Earnshaw and Nolohay well beaten; but does he have to have the ground very soft? Having got my fingers burned on Lesstalk In Paris in the Pouliches, where Rougetâs unfancied second string obliged, I can see why Pricewise has gone with Gonna Run as well as the Aga Khanâs unexposed Shamkiyr, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre.
After his surprise Dante success, The Grey Gatsby may find it a bit harder to dictate in a French-style race and a blanket could have covered the whole field at York making it look suspect form.
With ground reservations about the favourite, my inclination is to take a chance that Prestige Vendome will stay and the main danger may turn out to be Freddie Headâs Free Port Lux.