It was a relatively slow start to the week at Marseille-Borely on Monday with just a place to show from the 2 selections. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that so we will move on toe Tuesdays card at Saint-Cloud. The opening 4 races made more appeal so that is where I have concentrated my efforts below.
R1 – Quinte handicap.
Wide open race. Top weight Goya Senora sets a fair standard. Rated 44, finished 7th beaten less than 2-lengths in a similar event at Longchamp last time. Very closely matched with Monsieur Xoo.
Flatten the Curve off since July but has an interesting mark and has run well here earlier in the season. Srifanelogreen won at Deauville but outclassed in Listed race at Craon next time.
Bets Placed – Suspect class will rise to the top here. Played Monsieur Xoo (4/1) and Goya Senora (8/1) against the field.
R2 – 2YO Maiden.
Newcomer Rouhiya (Graffard) from a fair Aga Khan family, opened 11/2. Rhetorique 3/1 for debut here in September, off and on the bridle and only keeping on at one pace. Better as a 3YO?
Island Fantasy 2nd on debut at Clairefontaine but form is questionable and didn’t build on that when only 5th at Chantilly. Similar with Zvikova who was 13/2 on debut at Amiens and only 4th, ran green but did keep on.
Nini Star showed more when 6th in newcomers race at Chantilly, 33/1 but keeping on to be beaten 5-lengths or so, probably a bit bigger than she should be at 16s.
Iradje had 3 runs, 2.5-lengths behind 46-rated Fakarava at Compiegne over 1600 (travelled best). Probably achieved more than Mazieres though similar ORs.
Lady Invincible opened 2/1. 4th at Longchamp to Bauhinia on debut, beaten 3-lengths. Decent level and with improvement and better draw porbbaly holds Marjane.
Hard to say either of the principles offer much in the way of value at 2/1 and 11/4. No bet race as they set a decent level.
R3 - 2YO Maiden
Pair of newcomers. Ribchester Colt for Kobayashi has Demuro booked. Not an outstanding page but Jockey booking creates a small angle, 16.7% SR +€23.40 LSP. Happy Again (Dandy Man) looks like a longer term project on paper.
Prefer the other Brandt runner, Tecumseh. 9/2 for Saint-Cloud debut in September. Tanked into the race but was too green under pressure and allowed to coast home late. Form yet to be tested. Shaped better than Bellano who was 7th at Chantilly.
A Mark of 37k flatters Golden Pharoah. Retort sets a much better level. Finished 2nd on latest start at Lyon Parilly, winner was then 4th in the Marcel Boussac next time, 5-lengths clear of the rest. Stall 10 a worry.
Shadizi opened 6/4? Keeping on when 3rd over 1,200 at Chantilly but drawn wide and not certain to have the speed for this.
Bets Placed: Split stakes again as keen to take on Shadizi. Played Retort (9/4) and Tecumseh (9/1).
R4 – C2 over 12f.
Zillow had fair form in the Spring but off since May. Easily ran to mark in the 40s though. Same owners have Sacred Spirit, 3rd here in C2 last month, ideally placed but so one paced in the finish. Vulnerable to speed.
Helles and Qualiand look unlikely to run beyond a mark of 40.
Mr Le Philosophe won Compiegne handicap but didn’t need to run to mark to do so. Mirzann won on 3rd start at Lyon, beating horses rated 30-35 by 2-lengths. Stays well but others achieved more.
Bet Placed – If it wasn’t for the absence, I would have Zillow as Fav. Achieved more than these in the Spring. Might be one for another day but I’m happy to take 15/2 to find out.