*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Sacre Bleu! Sunday’s eight-race card at ParisLongchamp signals that the French flat season has fully returned. An incredibly strong mix of Group and Listed action throughout the afternoon offers plenty of different punting angles, with a few trappy maidens thrown in for good measure.
Qipco Champion Stakes winner Sealiway (16.00) is looking to bounce back to form after his tame effort in the Saudi Cup, and although I think he will win, he is not NAP material – that comes later, in the prestigious Prix
16:35 NAP – EBAIYRA – Prix Zarkava
With eight classy fillies heading to post, the Listed Prix Zarkava looks one of the most intriguing contests of the afternoon. Run over 2,100m, the fillies and mares event see the return of Gr.1 winner Grand Glory, who was sold for an astonishing €2,500,000 last December.
Despite her credentials, I think that Grand Glory will feel the wrath of the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained mare EBAIYRA, who comes into the race following a brave third-placed effort in Saudi Arabia. Freshened up by connections, Ebaiyra is getting better with age and a return to ParisLongchamp should suit the daughter of Distorted Honour.
With fitness concerns over Grand Glory, who is now a six-year-old, all signs point toward Ebaiyra, especially as her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is in blistering form, having already saddled 25 winners at this early stage of the campaign.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
16:00 NEXT-BEST – SEALIWAY – Prix d’Harcourt
Again heading towards the Graffard camp – although the confidence isn’t as high, SEALIWAY looks sure to go close in the feature race of the afternoon, the Gr.2 Prix d’Harcourt. Winner of last year’s Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot for former trainer and recently warned-off Cederic Rossi, Sealiway will need to bouce back from a below form effort in the Saudi Cup.
With the like of Skaletti and Mare Australis in the field, it is difficult to nominate Sealiway as a NAP for the day, although if running to his official rating of 123, he should be.
Providing he breaks well from the stalls, Sealiway should be well placed to from his inside draw and could find himself on the right end of what will be a tactical race. The softening ground in Paris should play to his strengths and on paper, he should be wining on his return to racing in France.
STUDY THE FORM IN STYLE
- CHECK OUT OUR SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY RACE, EVERY DAY
12:58 EACH-WAY PLAY – AZUREUS
A bit of a left field selection here, considering the downturn in form of his trainer Freddy Head but I think that AZUREUS could feature in the opening maiden on the card. Bred in the purple to be a top-class stayer, Azureus is a brother to Gr.1 winner Call The Wind, who ran for the same connections.
Despite being unraced, the son of Invincible Spirit has been entered in numerous contests recently, so it is interesting to note that the Head team have decided to tackle what is typically a strong maiden. With the regally bred Tuskan Sky and Mount Hatham in the field, Azureus may not pass the post in front, but with the dead eight runners he could be the value bet in this open contest.
ParisLongchamp Sunday Tips
- 16:35 NAP – EBAIYRA – Prix Zarkava
- 16:00 NEXT-BEST – SEALIWAY – Prix d’Harcourt
- 12:58 EACH-WAY PLAY – AZUREUS
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- Aintree results: All the results from the Grand National Festival 2022
- Aintree results: Where did my horse finish in the Grand National?
- Jamie Redknapp investigates football fans who have two teams
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
