10:25 – ROYAL GHOST @ 4/1
A competitive affair for our first handicap on the Longchamp card with Royal Ghost and Black Comedy the two principal contenders. Christophe Soumillion rides Black Comedy who finished third on his handicap debut at Marseille in March and warrants close attention.
Harlan, making his handicap debut could make the places under Pierre-Charles Boudot, but Royal Ghost is our pick.
The three-year-old is another to make his handicap debut and represents the powerful Freddy Head-Maxime Guyon combination. He wasn’t beaten far when finishing fifth at Lyon in February and the drop back a furlong in trip today will be positive.
It’s also interesting that a visor is been introduced on his handicap debut by Freddy Head and it’s hard to see him out of the money.
10:55 – GANBARU @ 8/1
The second three-year-old handicap is arguably more competitive than the previous race 30-minutes earlier, but Ganbaru gets the vote for trainer Andre Fabre.
The Godolphin-owned runner drops slightly back in trip following a third-place finish at Chantilly in March and makes his handicap debut this Monday under jockey Mickael Barzalona.
A return to turf with a slight ease in the ground could see him go close to victory and give the owner/trainer/jockey combination an early win before star attraction Victor Ludorum runs in the Prix de Fontainebleau. Fiburn F, Young Man, Tarida and a handful of others are also in contention in a very trappy contest.
11:25 – (NAP) TWIST @ 7/2
The Escoville Stakes looks an interesting affair with the once-raced and unbeaten Chorba our favourite for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. The Al Shaqab-owned filly was very impressive when dominating from the front to win on debut at Deauville and drops back in trip today to race on turf for the first time under jockey Cristian Demuro.
Speak Of The Devil is another filly who won on debut and could improve further, but Twist is our selection for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. The son of Pivotal finished second on debut behind Victor Ludorum last September before winning his maiden at Fontainebleau this March.
The chestnut won on the bridle that day and could go close to winning in this conditions race with natural improvement.
14:05 – HACKLE SETTER @ 8/1
The closing two races in Paris are tricky handicaps for older horses with a lot of exposed runners with very little consistent form. It can be beneficial to focus on jockey bookings in these races and Dragon Love is interesting with Christophe Soumillion booked to ride yet again.
He was second to rival Always Somewhere at Chantilly in February and is one of a handful of runners in with chances.
Loona Spigao won a Compiegne handicap in March with the visor applied for the first time that day and has every chance of winning again off a revised mark. However, our tentative each-way selection is the former Sylvester Kirk trained Hackle Setter.
He hasn’t set the world alight in France but could run well after a break with the booking of jockey Maxime Guyon a major positive.
14:35 – ANDREA DORIA @ 5/1
Another minefield in the lucky last on the Longchamp card where jockey Mickael Barzalona stays around to hopefully secure some redemption onboard Mister Mario.
This horse under Barzalona was one of three to be brought down in the closing stages of a handicap at Chantilly in a race were today’s rival Lady Arkadina finished fourth in March.
It would not be a surprise to see Barazlona in the frame, but the more solid selection is the consistent Andrea Doria. She won a handicap at Marseille last Christmas before finishing sixth at Cagnes in January and a fine fourth behind Always Somewhere at Chantilly in February.
That recent form stands out and the filly is the safest selection to back to end the day with a winner.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Horse Racing Tips: Our verdict on the favourites for Longchamp’s big ones on Monday
- Horse Racing Tips: French Racing Expert Laurent Barbarin fancies this 8/1 treble at Longchamp on Monday
- Paul Binfield: Get the inside track on Monday’s Longchamp meeting with my tips
* All odds correct at time of posting and are subject to change.
