We have a Monday bonanza instore with four fantastic group races coming up from ParisLongchamp racecourse.
The opener for the 10-race card is the Prix de Saint-Georges over five furlongs.
Unfortunately, this year’s renewal presents as a mundane contest as last year’s winner Sestilio Jet takes on last year’s runner up Batwan. I think Batwan will reverse the result having improved with all his racing last year.
A key trial for the Poule D’essai Des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas), eight horses remain in Prix de Fontainebleau with jockeys yet to be jocked up. However, I don’t expect any shocks with Earthlight already defected due to a gallops injury.
Victor Ludorum is our 4/6 favourite and the likely winner of the game. He won the Jean Luc Lagardere in is final run last year, but he doesn’t carry a Group 1 penalty here. Andre Fabre talked two weeks about Victor Ludorum being a Prix du Jockey Club horse and I can easily see him emulate horses like Brametot and Lope De Vega in being a French duel classic winner.
In opposition Helter Skelter would make appeal if Paris was to avoid the rain forecasted, but in the case that the ground comes up heavy I like Ecrivan to reverse the form with Victor Ludorum.
We have two good fillies duking it out in the Prix de la Grotte, but I am convinced the Andre Fabre’s Tropbeau will convincingly put away the Freddy Head trained Khayzaraan.
Over the past few years the Head stable have been slow into stride and runners come on plenty for the run and it may well be the case that Khayzaraan is seen to full effect in the French 1000 Guineas on June 1.
However, I can’t see her putting it up to Tropbeau who possibly could have been a Cheveley Park winner with a clearer run at Newmarket.
The real star of the day is Sottsass in the Prix d’Harcourt at 13:05. His season will steadily build to the Prix de lArc de Triomphe (he is currently 12/1) in October.
I reckon he will easily dismiss his opposition – as he did in the Prix Niel last September when coming into the race fresh, he had more than enough to dig in and pull out the win from a difficult position.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Project Restart: 6 clubs the Premier League could easily do without
- 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.
