Saturday’s Arc weekend under-card could prove to be particularly interesting from the point of view of Sunday punters as it is an opportunity to see how the ground is riding and the races are run. Glad I did not gamble on going as once again they have moved the start back to 2:30 local time so it could be virtually dark by the last two races like last year!
Prix Vermeille runner-up
Candarliya faces seven rivals in the Prix de Royallieu, one of which is John Gosden’s
Martlet, winner of the Listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting. None of the other fillies can boast anything better than Group 3 form, the highest level at which Christophe Soumillon’s mount has won, so she needs to win this convincingly to frank the form of her Group 1 second last time.
There is going to be much attention paid to the old warrior
Cirrus Des Aigles as he attempts to win the Prix Dollar for the fourth time; however, he is clearly not the force of old and should be avoided on drying ground. Last year’s victor
Fractional was disappointing at Deauville and Godolphin veteran
French Navy (an ex-Andre Fabre horse) has not been seen since beating Arod in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes back in April but has won before when fresh.
The Prix Daniel Wildenstein sees last year’s 1000 Guineas winner
Miss France take on the Prix Du Moulin runner-up
Akatea; and the latter is taken to show that her running behind Ervedya was no fluke in the race easily won last year by Solow. Of the other four,
Impassable looks the best but has not been out since May.
Off to Newmarket tomorrow, to back Esoterique in what looks an otherwise pretty ordinary Sun Chariot
This looks like a penalty kick for the Fabre challenger Esoterique with only a rejuvenated Integral (Stoute again) likely to cause a problem.
It could be a day to forget for Andre Fabre as he has favourite
Esoterique running in the Sun Chariot Stakes (3:30) at Newmarket but the quick ground could be her undoing, despite her win in the Prix Jacques le Marois being the best form in the race. Sir Michael Stoute’s
INTEGRAL has not been seen since disappointing at Royal Ascot but she won this last year when unfancied.
Over at Ascot the favourite should be avoided in the first as it is a favourite’s graveyard whilst
Romsdal should be avoided in the Cumberland Lodge as John Gosden’s chestnut is the best horse on the ratings but has never won on turf. The dead ground at Newmarket last time clearly did not help
MUFFRI’HA, so she gets one last chance in the 4:20.