Breaking News: Frankie Dettori won't be riding at Chantilly again either. Ah well, never mind! Let's just focus on the Racing instead. There is a fantastic card there this Thursday and after breaking even at Le Croise-Laroche yesterday with an obvious win for Let's Get Loud, it seemed to make sense to crack on with Thursdays only meeting too. This is difficult racing, it has taken me around 4-hours to work through this card and as you will see from the notes below, there are very few betting opportunities and a huge number of watching briefs. We are also heading towards the time of year when the turf tracks are wound down and it is important note that the cards at Chantilly and Deauville do tend to be split between the turf and the PSF. Todays card is a good example, with races 2, 3, 6 and 7 on the artificial surface, which can change the whole dynamic of the form.
R1 - Droit De Parole is becoming a bit of a cliff horse, always seems to run his race, including when 4th on last 2 starts here, but best form in the south and may need that to win a race. O Trasno closely matched when 5th in same race last time. Draw more in the favour of Droit De Parole this time around but neither outstanding.
Chimichiri won that race, all out. Rise in the weights may well be enough for Khan to reverse the form here. By Sea the Moon so shouldn’t be a sprinter but all 4 wins come over 6-furlongs (ish).
R2 – Best race on the card. Happy to rule out Cliffs of Moher who won what looked to be a poor maiden last time.
Atlast 15/2 on debut, led, ran green but kept on for 2nd. Form not yet tested. Clavus rated 40, won Saint-Cloud handicap from wide draw, came from last to first to win on the line, all out.
Race should be between Supercooled and Talentuoso.
Supercooled came from a poor position to win on debut at Saint-Cloud, 2nd has placed in a German G3 next time. Ran a 11.03 penultimate furlong, easily the fastest.
Talentuoso saved ground on the rail to win at Saint-Cloud. Front 2 came clear.
Supercooled opened at 8/11, probably fair and potentially a group horse.
R3 – 0-26 Claimer. No bet race on form.
R4 – 2YO Maiden.
Newcomers do make some appeal.
Tazara a Blue Point, War Front cross. Legacy a Lope de Vega Colt, Dam rated 40, a half-sister to The Fugue. Soumillon booked to ride would suggest Al Shaqab mean business. Radharani 3rd on Saint-Cloud debut (race won by Talentuoso) 7/2 SP, kept on without winning. Better debut than stablemate Dulini but far too short at 4/1.
Brothers of Lily’s has a rating of 40. Good run in an Arqana series race at Deauville last time to earn that rating but shapes like he needs further. Form gives Egiategia a chance, but one paced at the end last time.
Expert Advice opened 9/4 Fav. 2nd both times in the summer, looking green.
No Bet race, but if there was strong PMU support for Legacy it would be worth noting.
R5 – Koslovka supplemented into the small field but surely outclassed in this?
Dyptique a winner on debut at La Teste. 3rd next time at same track, ran close to a mark of 38. Both times, harder task here and been off 3-months. Vermelho looks to have a tough task also, 4th and one paced at Lion D’Angers.
Rose Academy won eventually at Lion D’Angers, made all, won cosily, but plenty og holes in that form. Leaves Dance Sioux by default. Rated 41 from early season form. 4th in a C2 last time on quicker ground, but winner was 2nd in the Marcel Boussac and 2nd won a maiden next time.
Bet Placed – happy to try and oppose Dyptique at 9/4 with a reverse exacta 2-3.
R6 – Strong C1 contest.
It’s Chico Time won’t win this but the other 5 all have a decent chance on the figures.
Apax now 2-10, has handicap win but suspect this is a step too far even though he is relatively consistent.
Gamestop was 2nd in the Jean-Luc Lagardere last season but not same horse in 2 runs after a long break, readily outpaced despite good track position at Saint-Cloud last time out.
Nascent won. Nicely at Vichy and lengthened well, but horses in behind have let that form down since. Close on form level with Karelia, can forgive handicap run last time but just wonder if she is good enough in this grade against the boys?
Prefer William Tell. Won on the PSF here in Feb. 4th last time in Quinte on Arc Day when making most and keeping on best of the front runners. This looks like it will suit him and probably gets to lead.
Bet Placed - William Tell (15/8)
R7 – Valubale claimer. Revolves around Zandjan who has solid Group form, but plenty of dangers from last time out winners. No bet race for me.
R8 – Big field sprint handicap. Happy to leave this with all the draw bias.