12:25 Longchamp – Khayzaraan @ 7/4
Khayzaraan and Tropbeau look the pair to focus on here, with preference for the former at the current prices. She created a deep impression in winning her last two starts as a juvenile by an aggregate distance of 13 and a half lengths, just needing to be shaken up on the second occasion to put some fairly useful rivals to the sword in a minor event at Chantilly.
The most impressive aspect of that performance was the time – over 1.4 seconds faster than subsequent Group 1 winner Victor Ludorum recorded when winning on the same card – and Khayzaraan has certainly shown enough to suggest she is well worth her place in this sort of company, with the French 1000 Guineas appealing as an obvious next target if she can take this first step up the ladder in her stride.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Paddy’s Rewards Club – Double Rewards! Qualify in May and bank the same for June
- Fussball’s back: Which Bundesliga club should you support from May 16
- 5 ways to replace Stadium atmospheres as football goes behind closed doors
13:05 Longchamp – Sottsass @ 8/15
Sottsass was Timeform’s joint-highest-rated three-year-old in 2019, when his wins included the French Derby at Chantilly (beating the French 2000 Guineas winner Persian King) and the Prix Niel at this venue.
He also finished an excellent third behind Waldgeist and Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on his final start, when seeming to get tired in the closing stages on very testing ground, which points to the drop back in trip here being in his favour.
The form of that defeat still sets the standard by some margin on weight-adjusted ratings, even with his 2 lb penalty taken into account, and this looks an excellent opportunity for him to resume winning ways before a return to the highest level, with further improvement not ruled out, either, after only seven career starts.
13:35 Longchamp – Spinning Memories @ 11/4
Spinning Memories is the class act in this line-up if reproducing the pick of the form she showed in 2019, which included her win in this race and an even better effort to take the Group 3 Prix de Meautry at Deauville at August.
Admittedly, the form of that race didn’t work out subsequently and she didn’t exactly cover herself in glory when we last saw her finishing well down the field at Chantilly in March, but the conditions of this listed contest are stacked in her favour, and, 7 lb clear of the field on weight-adjusted ratings, they will all need to improve to come up to her level.
Wasmya and Dathanna can battle it out for the minor honours.
*Prices correct at publishing but are subject to change
The latest International racing odds are on PP.com now