Hi all,
Another busy week of racing comes to an end today. The best quality flat action is across the Irish Sea at Naas where its Royal Ascot trials day. There are two Group 3 contests the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (4.15) and the Goffs Lacken Stakes (4.45) and two Listed races on an eight-race card.
There’s just one flat meeting in the UK today at Ripon but for jumps fans there’s a NH fixture at Stratford. There’s also a jumps fixture at Killarney with a Grade B Handicap Hurdle (3:30) and a Listed Mares’ Hurdle (3:00) being the highlights of the first of three day’s racing at the track.
Today’s best action takes place at Longchamp were its their first classics of the French flat season: The Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (2:15) (French 1,000 Guineas) and the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2:55) (French 2,000 Guineas).
In today’s main piece I preview both the French Classics and the Killarney handicap hurdle and I have selections in all three races.
Longchamp
2:15 – Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) – 1m
Cachet won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on her last start and fully deserves to head the market. However, she does face several interesting fillies representing the home team. The best of them looks to be Rosacea who produced a nice turn of foot to beat Daisy Maisy in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte over C&D which is one of the key French 1,000 Guineas Trials. Both fillies were making their seasonal returns that day. However, the bookies think that the winner will come out on top again as she’s 3/1 with Coral whereas Daisy Maisy is 18/1 with the same firm. The Andre Fabre filly trained filly Mqse De Sevigne looks to have improved plenty from two to threehaving won a Group 3 here over 1m 1f. The ground was soft that day and she shaped like she was more of French Oaks contender. If the drop back to a mile doesn’t prove an inconvenience, then she won’t be far away. Aidan O’Brien brings over Toy. The daughter of Galileo won a Cork maiden last month. She showed a nice turn of foot to win that day and looks a useful prospect. However, she’ll need to have improved plenty to win here and at best priced 6/1 looks plenty short enough in the betting on what she’s achieved so far.
Verdict: It might be worth taking on Cachet given the front runners draw in stall 10. You must go back to 2001 for Aidan O’Brien’s last win the race but his runner Toy is improving at the right time and has a handy draw in stall 5. Mqse De Sevigne would be of major interest if the ground was to ease further. That leaves Rosacea and Daisy Maisy and at the prices I like prefer the claims of the latter.
2:55 – Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) – 1m
The Charlie Appleby trained Modern Games is a short-priced favourite to follow up his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on his last start of his juvenile campaign. He’s well suited to quick turf and if he’s trained on from two to three will take the beating if he gets his ideal underfoot conditions. Bayside Boy’s juvenile form was arguably as good as the favourite’s. He won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster before finishing third to Native Trail in the Dewhurst and occupying the same spot behind Luxembourg in the Futurity at Doncaster. First run since October and he has stall 14 to overcome. English trained runners are dominant in the betting with Claymore another capable of a big run. A winner of his sole juvenile start on soft ground, He made a pleasing seasonal return when a 3 ½ length 2nd of 6 to Native Trail in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. More ease in the ground is a positive but he’s drawn out widest of all in 16. Lassaut looks to have a handy draw in stall 3 and improved for the return to quick turf when winning over C&D. He’s another open to further improvement and looks the pick of the home trained runners. Another of the home team with a low draw in stall 5 is Rock Boy. The colt came from behind to land the Group 3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. That success came over 7f but he won over 1m 1f as a juvenile and he’s now unbeaten on his three career starts. He’s yet to race on ground better than heavy but the return to a mile will suit and he remains open to further progress.
Verdict: Modern Games has a better draw than Bayside Boy. Others with handy low draws areLassaut and Rock Boy. The latter in particularly looks overpriced if handling today’s quicker ground.
Killarney
3:30 – Kelly Farm Modernisation Ltd Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 2m 1f
Glan improved to win at Fairyhouse two starts and was a warm order (4/1 fav) to follow up at the Punchestown Festival. She was travelling powerfully in mid division when making a race ending mistake three out and was wisely soon pulled up. Good ground suits the mare and she will take some beating here. Celestial Horizon didn’t jump with any fluency and in the circumstances did well to get within 4 ½ length of the winner when 2nd of 15 at Fairyhouse last month. Today’s extra furlong will suit the 4-year-old, probably needs further than 2m 1f, and he’s open to further progress but does need to jump better than last time. Rock On Seamie has posted to respectable efforts since returning from a winter break. The 7-year-old probably found 2m 4f stretching his stamina when 2nd of 17 at Cork just 8-days ago and a return to this sort of trip will suit. Each way claims with Rachel Blackmore booked for the light weight. Sit Down Lucy didn’t get the clearest of passages when 4 length 4th of 17 to Felix Desjy at Punchestown last time. That was close to a personal best by the 8-year-old. With better luck in the run, she won’t be far away again. Clarens was well placed to win a hat trick of handicap hurdles last autumn. Up 9lb for the latest of those wins 175-days ago but the 5-year-old may not have stopped improving. Jack Foley who rode Clarens to those three successes’ is on Magnor Glory who looked much improved when winning a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle by 17 lengths last month. The handicapper has raised him 14lb for that win but with Foley taking off a handy 5lb the 6-year-old remains competitively weighted. First reserve Golf Marin is 0-9 over hurdles but there was a lot to like about his 3 ½ length 4th of 25 to Broomfield Hall at Punchestown Festival last time. He was doing his best work at the finish that day and there could be more to come from the 6-year-old.
Verdict: Golf Marin would be on the high on the shortlist if getting into the race. Glan was travelling well when making a bad mistake last time and remains on a good mark. If Celestial Horizon jumps better than last time he won’t be far away. Preference though is for last time out easy winner Magnor Glory and the Rachel Blackmore ridden light-weight Rock On Seamie.
Betting Advice:
Longchamp
2:15 – 0.5pts each way – Daisy Maisy – 18/1 @ William Hill (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
2:55 – 1pt win – Lassaut – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win Rock Boy – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Killarney
3:30 – 1pt win – Magnor Glory – 8/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Rock On Seamie – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Cheers
John