A rather high-quality card for a midweek meeting at Chantilly with the return of 2019 French 2000 Guineas winner Persian King the main attraction across the 10-race card.
Now, while Persian King has some exceptional form on paper and is sure to go off a well-supported favourite I’m not convinced he is NAP material, especially as we have seen some Fabre-trained hotpots being turned over on their seasonal bow’s recently.
He is an incredibly talented horse and hopefully he can recapture that brilliance but in the meantime I have picked out three horses I think are safer propositions and worth following throughout the afternoon.
14:35 American Apples (nap)
A bit brave to be putting this one up as my nap considering she is only one from four, but I took a risk at Compiegne at the weekend and it payed off with Le Berry. American Apples is a horse I have followed since her debut for the Francis Graffard yard back in March.
She has been placed twice at Listed level (both times looking as if a step up in trip would suit) and was beaten by Prix de Diane favourite, Raabihah last time out.
She now faces Group 3 level for the fist time, but to be honest this looks a fairly standard race. The step up in trip to 2,400m is sure to play to American Apples’ strengths and her trainer Francis Graffard has always been very keen on this filly.
Another telling sign is that her jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot has opted to ride American Apples instead of the unbeaten Hakela Du Seuil (trained by his brother-in-law Mickael Seror). If she breaks well and gets an easy time of things up front, American Apples could prove a very tough filly to pass.
13:25 Chachnak (next best)
Fabrice Vermeulen-trained colt Chachnak lost little in defeat when finishing third behind Pao Alto and Ocean Atlantique last time out. The son of Kingman showed a great workmanlike attitude that day and faces much lesser opposition here, he looks the most solid selection.
Jockey Mickael Barzalona takes over for the first time aboard the three-year-old who was highly tried last season (ran in a group one on Arc weekend) and if he can reproduce his most recent run then Chachnak should win this.
The Vermeulen yard has been in reasonable form of late and it is unlike the trainer to declare a horse if it doesn’t have a chance. Chachank remains entered in the Prix du Jockey Club but it is highly unlikely he will run. If there was one to fear in the field it could be Pisanello from the all-conquering Fabrice Chappet yard.
16:20 Karioitahi (each-way play)
The Josephine Soudan-trained Karioitahi was rather disappointing when beaten in a claimer at Vichy three weeks ago. Multiple excuses can be proposed for that run and it is quite probable that the filly struggled with the nature of the track as well as having to give away a lot of weight away to the horses that finished in front.
Here we find Karioitahi at the top of the weights (meaning she is theoretically the best horse in the field) but Soudan has chosen to take advantage of talented young apprentice Aude Duporte’s 4kg claim.
Kariotahi will actually carry the third-lightest weight of the whole field.
The weight advantage, coupled with a return to Chantilly (where she has won in the past) could see Soudan notch up her second winner of the week from her small but select string in Chantilly.
*Prices correct at publishing but are subject to change except on our snazzy new bet widget which is bang up to date.
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