Sunday's Meetings Chelmsford A/W 8 Races 1:40-5:35p.m. Sligo N/H 8 Races 1:30-5:25p.m. Market Rasen N/H 8 Races 1:45-5:45p.m. Limerick Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:15p.m. Ayr Flat 6 Races 2:30-5:20p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Do not shoot the messenger time again... I have been told by someone that rarely gets any information that Godolphin will be winning the Prix Jean Prat this afternoon at Deauville (3:07) with Romantic Style. As I had already looked at the race last night (analysis following), my money is elsewhere. I am pretty certain my mate’s mate (lives in Romford) knows nobody in the Appleby operation so it must be second hand information.
With mediocre fare on offer at home, the only real race of the day is the Prix Jean Part over 1400m at Deauville. The reality is that this is a Group 1 race in name only, the field comprised of improvers or horses that have been bit part players in other Group 1 races at best. Pascal Bary’s Monteille won a six furlong Group 3 when last seen back in May but prior to that she trailed home second last in the Prix de la Grotte over a mile on very soft ground. She won her maiden over seven but had previously finished only third over course and distance, so surely a place is the best she can hope for today. Two of these ran in the Poulains, which looked like a bad form race at the time, so perhaps we could forgive Jean-Claude Rouget’s Puchkine in ninth and Beauvatier in twelfth. Puchkine had won three small races in the provinces and subsequently he was only fourth in a Longchamp Group 3 where Havana Cigar was second and Sajir third, so it is hard to see him reversing any of that form. Yann Barberot’s Beauvatier is less of a forlorn hope as he won a Listed race over course and distance before finishing third in the Lagardère on Arc Sunday and perhaps they have decided that he does not stay a mile. Havana Cigar is clearly the Rouget first string but that second in the Prix Paul de Moussac looks like a career best as he was third behind Beauvatier in a Group 3 as a juvenile. Andre Fabre’s Sajir is another probably out of his depth here as his career best would be winning the Group 3 Prix Sigy. That makes it look like one of the best of the home defence is David Menuisier’s Devil’s Point, runner-up in the Futurity at Doncaster last year but beaten more than seven lengths in the Prix Djebel by Lazzat, who subsequently won the Paul de Moussac where four lengths covered the first four. So the winner might well come from the foreign raiding party. Supporters of Charlie Hills’ Iberian are clearly looking for a return to the form of his juvenile win in the five runner Champagne Stakes as he trailed in last in the 2000 Guineas on his only start in 2024. Willie McCreery’s Vespertilio was third in what looked a very mediocre Pouliches with Brian Meehan’s Kathmandu one place ahead and Charlie Appleby’s Romantic Style one place behind. That form looks untrustworthy and Vespertilio did nothing to advertise it when ninth in the Irish 1000 Guineas, won by her Moyglare conqueror Fallen Angel. Kathmandu has not been seen since but her previous third in the Nell Gwyn does not look good enough to see her featuring at the business end today over the same trip. Romantic Style finished fourth in the Pouliches but won the Prix Imprudence on the Deauville kitty litter before that. Arguably that form looks good because of the efforts of Ramatuelle and Tamfana in the 1000 Guineas but the fact is that neither of them is here today or have won a race since. The Appleby yard has had four winners from eight runners this month, albeit one the Belmont Oaks last night (can Buick manage flying straight to France?). That leaves me with just two horses. It seems quite clear that Zandy, a Frankel filly owned by Juddmonte with no realistic form chance, is here as pacemaker for their KIKKULI, favourite with the British bookies after just failing to land the Jersey Stakes last time. There are just the two problems: has he recovered from his exertions in the intervening fifteen days and will this easy seven furlongs suit a horse what has only raced on tracks with stiff finishes? Ryan Moore is back in the plate.
The only 10lb claimer in the race wins the opening conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at Market Rasen. We used to have a stat about that. Division 2 doesn't have a 10lb claimer unfortunately.
Such is my present form that I doubt if I could find the winner of a 'Walkover'. However, one must press-on and hope things will get better! QuarterMoonIII's post on the big race at Deauville has conviinced me that it's just too tough; but I hope his selection runs well and wins it. Will take a chance with Ambassador e/w in the 15:25 at Market Rasen. Joshua Thompson (7) on board for the Micky Hammond stable. First-time blinkers applied. 12/1 best price in many places early-doors, on the ATR site.
The Prix Jean Part turned into a bit of a joke. The Godolphin horse was never going at any stage and finished last, so my mate’s mate had best stop listening to that bloke down his local! The bookies will be delighted that Puchkine, the outsider of Jean-Claude Rouget’s runners, beat his fancied runner Havana Cigar into second. The pacemaker Zandy simply did not go quick enough for Kikkuli, who spent most of the race pulling his jockey’s arms out in mid division and found nothing when asked for his effort. Was the race too soon after Royal Ascot? Possibly, but I won’t be backing him next time in case he continues this pattern of running keenly and not winning. Hardly any got into the race proper and the winner reversing Paul de Moussac placings with his stablemate has me drawing a line through this one. Ambassador simply did not jump very well, which is the name of the game, so your Sunday was as fruitless as mine (other than putting my free bet with Bet365 on Hull FC + 12 to pay for my beer).
