Chantilly Tips - 1st June

The 18-runners in the Prix du Jockey Club makes for a very tough betting race. It's a fantastic Group 1 race and a case can definitely be made that it is much deeper than either the Epsom or Irish equivalents will prove to be. However, the draw and the scrap for a prominent position in the opening couple of furlongs would put me off having any investment, especially as some of the stronger staying types (of which Parachutiste would rank top in my book) are drawn so wide. I'll leave that alone and highlight a couple of each-way bets on the undercard which caught my eye instead.

3:50 - Prix Marchand D'or - Estepona (Each-Way)

Won first 2 starts at Deauville and thought good enough to run in the G1 Prix Morny last season (finished 8th). Returned from 6-month break to chase home Arizona Blaze in the Prix Sigy in April. Drawn high and forced to drop in, traveled strongly widest of all, couldn't get to the winner, but readily came past both Rayevka and Apollo Fountain who re-oppose here. Another high draw to contend with, but has Midnight Strike (Joseph O'Brien) next door in stall 8. He took less than 3s to reach 20 mph at Navan and should give a nice tow into the race, even if he is unlikely to see out the 6f.

Delcher Sanchez yard had 3 winners from their last 10-runners. Trainer of Vicious Harry, runner-up in this race in 2023.

4:25 Grand Handicap de Chantilly - Tiger Rock (Each-Way)

Unexposed son of Sea the Stars. Won a Clairefontaine maiden last summer. Given time this year, but returned with a solid 6th in a Paris Longchamp handicap last time. Stall 1 wasn't' ideal and he was forced to switch off the rail in the home straight when the gaps didn't appear. However, ran the final 3-furlongs in 34.68s, the fastest finish in the field according to the McLloyd Sectional times. A top speed of 65 km/h in the 12th furlong was the joint fastest in the race.

Lerner yard has had a slow start to the year, but 3 winners from their last 20 runners suggest they have turned the corner. His Dam was a Listed winner over 12-furlongs and both she and his half-sister, Tres Rock Woman, reached ratings in the mid-40s as 4YOs, suggesting he could be very well handicapped on 37-kilos. Drawn in 10 may actually help to give Maxime Guyon a clearer run around the outside and into the straight. Guyon rode the winner of this race in 2024 and 2021, finishing 2nd in 2023.