Sunday's Meetings Ayr Flat 7 Races 1:45-5:15p.m. Market Rasen N/H 7 Races 2:00-5:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
The first Group 1 of the Deauville Festival, the Prix Jean Prat, headlines a card containing three trappy Listed races at the seaside Normandy resort. I would give the first race at Deauville, the Prix Roland de Chambure (12:58 BST) a miss. The field of six includes two British raiders Sirius A (James Horton) and Ellusive Butterfly (Karl Burke). The former was odds on winner of an ordinary 7 furlong Leicester maiden last time and has changed ownership whilst the latter was fourth on debut in a 6 furlong Ripon novice, losing any chance by going sideways at the gate; but must be well regarded to be travelling to France as a maiden. The likely favourite is Christophe Head’s Nighttime, easy winner of a Saint Cloud conditions race last time. The Prix Amandine (3.05) also contains a British raider in the form of Mandurah from the Crisford yard; however, William Buick’s mount is making her seasonal bow and there are enough form lines from her sixth in the Oh So Sharp Stakes (Ed Walker’s Troia fourth) to suggest that she will struggle to beat race fit rivals today. Troia beat Medusa Merger, Epson Blue Cen, Motu Proprio and Stupor Mundi in the Prix Volterra over a mile at Longchamp and all of those fillies drop a furlong today; however, that race was a tactical mess where a blanket would have covered the whole field and the ground will not be as soft today. Prior to that Medusa Merger had won a handicap at this trip. If I were desperate to get involved in this, Godolphin filly Honeyflower is overpriced for a filly that beat Motu Proprio a long way when second in a conditions race last time after winning her maiden at this trip. The last of the Listed races, the Prix Goldikova (4.23) looks the best chance of Euros being exported across the Channel. The favourite with the British bookies is Karl Burke’s Bright Thunder, winner of a Chantilly Listed race last term, who was (a well beaten) second in a Group 3 at Epsom on Derby Day but a much closer third to another Gosden filly at Goodwood the time before with yesterday’s Sandown runner-up Arisaig fifth. The short price puts me off as the next best form on offer is that of Group 3 Prix Allez France third Euboa but she has not been seen for two months since; and the thrice-raced Francis-Henri Graffard trained Pinta could be anything after winning two egg and spoon races at Compiegne. There is a curious Irish raider in the field in the form of Henry de Bromhead’s Rubies From Burma, second last in a Group 2 behind Porta Fortuna when last seen six weeks ago. The second race on the card is the Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis (1.33) over six furlongs. The most curious aspect of this race is Andre Fabre’s six year old Tribalist running under a penalty. Last year’s Prix du Moulin winner was third last in this race last year with today’s rivals Spycatcher (sixth) and Batwan (fourth) ahead of him. So is this just a warm up for another trip to Longchamp? Ten year old Batwan was second to seven year old Spycatcher in this race two years ago, so both are standing dishes in this sort of event. Toyotomi has joined David O’Meara’s yard since last running fourth in the Group 3 Prix du Gros-Chene over five furlongs (where National Service was one place behind and Batwan was three behind). National Service subsequently won a six furlong handicap but if I were desperate for a bet in this I might chance Beauvatier, who was consistent most of last season (without winning; third in three Group 1s: the Prix Jean Prat, the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Prix de la Forêt) and warmed up six weeks ago finishing last in a Group 3 over seven furlongs. So that leaves the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat (3.40), featuring three foreign raiders. It is difficult to know what to think of the chances of The Lion In Winter. He won the Acomb at this trip (beating the subsequent Guineas winner) but ran abysmally in the Dante on his reappearance (a race that now looks poor following the exploits of the other runners since) and then never went a yard in The Derby. Last year’s Dewhurst winner Shadow Of Light started out finishing third in the Guineas (probably did not stay) and dropped to sprinting at the Royal meeting where he was only fifth when favourite for the Commonwealth Cup. On official ratings he is the best horse in the race but he may not have trained on. Perhaps the best of the raiders will turn out to be Cosmic Year, winner of his first three starts (the last of which was a Listed race at this distance) before chasing home Field Of Gold (at a respectful distance) in the Irish 2000 Guineas (with yesterday’s Eclipse runner Hotazhell third). It is hard to make a case for any of the four local outsiders in this race. The filly Daylight was seventh in the Pouliches when last seen. My suspicion is that Apollo Fountain might be in as a pacemaker for Cosmic Year. Cacofonix won the Prix de Nanterre last time, beating Kerkila who runs in a Listed race earlier. Silius is closely tied with the two main French contenders on form. He was second in the Prix Djebel, won by Maranoa Charlie with Woodshauna third; and was then beaten again by Maranoa Charlie in the Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac last time but by further. The Djebel is normally a trial for the Poulains but Christophe Head’s Wootton Bassett colt sidestepped Longchamp and was beaten in a six furlong sprint at Chantilly, won by Woodshauna with subsequent Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals second. That might not be a reliable form line given the draw bias at Ascot but for my purposes I am going to use it to put Francis-Henri Graffard’s colt ahead of Shadow Of Light. Maranoa Charlie made all in the Group 3 last time but he may have competition for the lead today if Apollo Fountain is in as a pacemaker, so unless the Ballydoyle ‘wonder horse’ suddenly comes good dropped back to this trip, I am going with WOODSHAUNA having the race set up for him to cause an upset at big each way odds.
Any tips for market rasen in the good to soft soft in places ground? Likely to soften up as the day goes on.
Won a Hunters Chase last year at Newton Abbot on soft/heavy. Seems to be to be either in form or our of form and when he's in form he goes well on any ground
Maranoa Charlie has a bit to find but after an abortive try at 6f looked more at ease over 7f last time. Shadow Of Light is too short today but will no doubt win after letting me down badly last time. Hotazhell didn't do a lot for Cosmic Years form yesterday and The Lion In Winter has stunk the place out and is dropping way back in trip. Maranoa Charlie is likely to lead from the gates after starting like Lochsong last time and at 8/1 I thought him worth a go. 3.40 Deauville Maranoa Charlie 8/1
Good shout QM, we had the forecast between us which paid £106.18 Never mind. In the race itself my horse didn't trap as well as last time but managed to get the lead. He was pestered by the pacemaker for a long way though. Just when I felt Maranoa Charlie was going to be swamped he fought on very gamely. In the end the winner finished most strongly to land the spoils. Cosmic Year went from hacking along to coming under heavy pressure in about two strides. I reckon the idea of a pacemaker backfired and I'd be trying him a 6f next time if he were mine. Shadow Of Light also flattered to deceive with a promising run but he could not sustain the effort. He looks in need of a rating drop as he has not progressed from a decent effort in the Guineas. The Lion In Winter ran a cracker, considering he had run so badly in the Derby. It was a great training performance to get this kind of run out of him but awful placing of him in the Dante and Derby. I wonder if "The Lads" need to trust the trainer to make the calls. It's their money though and they are rather successful.
