10:40 Dia De Muertos @ 6/1
The action at Lyon gets underway with a six-furlong juvenile claimer with a small field of six declared runners. It’s been two-weeks since the return of racing in France and trainer Andrea Marcialis, with two horses here, has been in good form with seven winners from 38-runners – eleven of those were also placed.
Otello, a son of Style Vendrome makes a racecourse debut for Marcialis under Mickael Barzalona, while filly and stable-mate DIA DE MUERTOS, who finished third on debut, is the mount of Maxime Guyon.
She’s taken to reverse the form with Winvalchope from Chantilly and the extra furlong looks a benefit after her staying on performance in that race. That experience, along with the fillies allowance, could be enough to see off these rivals – including Jean Claude Rouget’s newcomer, Always In My Head. The Rouget runners are bang in form at present, while others here include, Imperatorio who finished third on debut and Key Free who ran fifth here recently.
11:10 Marie De Vega @ 2/1
We stay with the juveniles for our second race on the card with seven unraced fillies racing over six-furlongs. Andre Fabre has a good record here with two-year-olds and he runs Magna Mater for Godolphin with Mickael Barzalona in the saddle. The daughter of Zoffany cost €85,000 at Tattersalls last October and it was nice to see the trainer back in form with Lackeen and Queen of Love at Deauville on Sunday.
Any market support for the Andrea Marcialis-trained Selket would be positive with Maxime Guyon booked to ride, while Coeursamba for Jean Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro is another lively contender. She has a speedy pedigree by the former John Quinn trained Coventry Stakes winner, The Wow Signal who also won the Prix Morny as a juvenile here in France.
MARIE DE VEGA is trained by Pascal Bary and is a full sister to Antonia De Vega, so she gets a strong vote of approval. The daughter of Lope De Vega cost €310,000 at the Arqana yearling sale last August and it’s interesting that Pierre-Charles Boudot rides on debut. Boubot has been red-hot these past two-weeks and has already managed two winners from three rides for the trainer this year.
11:40 Allez Barza @ 7/4
The two-year-olds continue to take centre stage for our third race at Lyon this Monday with a six-furlong maiden for colts and geldings. Andre Fabre and Mickael Barzalona team-up with ALLEZ BARZA, a son of former Prix Morny winner Dabirsim, and any market support would bring extra confidence if deciding to back our selection.
Fabre has an excellent strike-rate with two-year-olds here and his runner has a very speedy pedigree, that’s why he gets the vote here to see off main rival Ethnic Type. The Jean-Claude Rouget runner with Cristian Demuro in the saddle is a son of Fast Company and on paper, it looks a clear match between two of the big powerhouses in French racing. Go Athletico the most likely to chase them home.
12:10 Suffrage @ 2/1
The Prix Bruler is a colts and geldings maiden and the first opportunity to see some three-year-olds on the Lyon card this Monday. It’s a small field of five-runners over ten-furlongs with one newcomer, Trezy Boy under jockey Eddy Hardouin. The experienced runners have shown very little to date, with Huracan one for the short list considering trainer Andrea Marcialis has managed winners recently.
Despite his poor recent form since the return of racing, trainer Freddy Head has an excellent strike-rate with three-year-olds here at Lyon. SUFFRAGE gets the tentative vote for victory with Maxime Guyon in the saddle for the Wertheimer brothers. He finished sixth on heavy ground at Fontainebleau last November and that run might be enough to win what looks to be a very ordinary looking maiden.
13:25 Zahony @ 10/1
A field of eight runners are declared for this fillies maiden over 10 furlongs for three-year-olds with five of these horses having previous experience. Satono Elpis, a daughter of Galileo looks the most interesting newcomer for trainer Freddy Head having cost €600,000 at the Arqana yearling sale in Deauville in 2018.
Anahata finished fifth on debut at Fontainebleau last November, but that form doesn’t look the strongest. ZAHONY is open to improvement following a hands and heels fourth at Chantilly behind Irska and she looks the valued selection for trainer Fabrice Chappet. Irska has boosted the form since with another victory in a conditions race at Saint-Cloud and Zohony looks a serious contender.
The Andre Fabre-trained Bonnie Idee should uphold the form with Les Loges from Pascal Bary’s yard following their fourth and fifth placed finishes in a maiden at Deauville last October. Bonnie Idee, owned by the Juddmonte team, was staying on better on that occasion and the extra two-furlongs should be a positive.
Lyon tips summary:
10:40 Dia De Muertos @ 6/1
11:10 Marie De Vega @ 2/1
11:40 Allez Barza @ 7/4
12:10 Suffrage @ 2/1
13:25 Zahony @ 10/1
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* All odds correct at time of posting and are subject to change.
