Racing heads back to Longchamp on Thursday for an exciting ten-race programme. The meeting includes two Group 3 races and three Listed feature races.
Other international racing tips for Thursday:
Longchamp
Belmont
Cairns
Hamilton
Wyong
Neil Morrice Tips
The fields are small but very competitive. MKFANCY in Race 2 is the best bet on today’s card. He won a Group 1 race over ten furlongs by 3 lengths last year. He was in need of his last start and should be at peak fitness coming into this race. The son of Mafki looks to be a class above the rest of the field and should take a power of beating.
Best Bet: MKFANCY (Race 2)
Value Bet: ZALAMEA (Race 6)
Race 1 – PRIX DE LA SEINE (Listed)
The first Listed event of the day is for three-year-old fillies over eleven furlongs. The grey, AMERICAN BEACH was an impressive winner of her maiden race in her last start over a mile at Bordeaux. The manner in which she races suggests that she will be at home over today’s distance. The daughter of American Post should come into this race at peak fitness and may be the one to side with here. She jumps from barrier position three which is a big plus. RAABIHAH caught the eye when winning by three lengths on debut over ten furlongs on the all-weather surface at Cagnes-Sur-Mer. She would have come on from the experience under her belt and should have more to come. The daughter of Sea The Stars does try the turf for the first time, but if suited to the surface she should throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. AMERICAN APPLES was beaten just over half a length over 1900m on the all-weather surface at Deauville last time. She was an impressive maiden winner in her penultimate start over this type of distance. She obviously doesn’t have any stamina doubts and with jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot retaining the ride, she should be right there in the run down to the wire.
Race 2 – PRIX LA FORCE (Group 3)
The first Group 3 race of the day is for three-year-old colts and geldings over nine furlongs. The best bet on the day is MKFANCY from the Pia Brandt stable. He showed signs of needing his last start over this distance at Chantilly. He was ultra-impressive when winning a Group 1 race over ten furlongs at Saint-Cloud in his penultimate start. The son of Mafki should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon and if putting his best foot forward, he should be hard to get past in the run down to the finishing post. PAO ALTO is a winner of his last two starts, the latest of which was a Listed race over a mile at Bordeaux. He does return from a seven-month break, but clearly has ability and must be respected. Regular pilot Maxime Guyon rides on his return and he will know how to get the best out of the son of Intello. ANOTHER SKY was an impressive winner on debut over 1900m at Chantilly on the all-weather surface. The son of Le Havre does take on stronger this afternoon, but the manner in which he won suggests that he has some class about him. He jumps from pole position this afternoon and should be involved in the fight out to the finish.
Race 3 – PRIX VANTEAUX (Group 3)
The second and last of the Group 3 races is for three-year-old fillies over 1800m. EMOJI who is owned by Team Valor International is unbeaten in two starts to date. She was an impressive two length winner of a Listed race over a mile at Saint-Cloud last time. The daughter of Soldier Hallow looks to have class about her and should have no issues with regards to fitness this afternoon. Pierre-Charles Boudot retains the ride and the pair will be looking to keep their unbeaten record intact. FLIGHTLY LADY is yet to be unplaced from four starts to date. She was far from disgraced when finishing three lengths behind the winner in a Group 1 event over a mile on this course last year. She returns from a seven-month lay-off this afternoon, during which time she would have strengthened up and if not in need of the run today, she may be the one to pick up the pieces should the top choice fluff her lines. WAY OF TANGO just won her maiden race over a mile at Fontainebleau last time. She does take a rise in class this afternoon, but the daughter of Galiway is lightly raced and looks to be progressive. Jockey Aurelien Lemaitre knows her well and the pair merit healthy respect.
Race 4 – PRIX ZARKAVA – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L’ELEVAGE (Listed)
The second of the Listed feature races is for older fillies and mares over 2100m. GRAND GLORY is one of the better bets on today’s programme. She was considered good enough to contest in a Group 1 event last time and was far from disgraced as she finished under a length behind the winner. She is returning from almost a year’s break, during which time she would have strengthened up. The daughter of Olympic Glory has bigger fish to fry this season, but she has class and maybe too good for this field. DARIYMA has just had the three runs to date, having won her first two races and finishing second in a Listed event over ten furlongs at Saint-Cloud last time. Christophe Soumillon who was aboard her when winning on debut steps back into the saddle this afternoon and the combination should be one of the leading contenders for the placings here. QUEEN has finished runner-up in her last three outings. She has finished second twice and third once from as many starts on this course. Regular pilot Theo Bachelot rides the daughter of Kingman from pole position and the pair must be included in all bets.
Race 5 – PRIX DU PONT NEUF (Listed)
The last of the feature races on the day is a race for three-year-olds over seven furlongs. ARAPAHO from the Andre Fabre yard looks to be the one to side with here. The son of Lope De Vega was an impressive winner of his first two career starts and finished second in this type of company over this distance at Deauville last time. He would have strengthened up during his nine-month lay-off and looks to have more to come. Regular pilot Pierre-Charles Boudot rides from a handy barrier position and the pair may get back to winning ways today. SUJET LIBRE has good form to his credit. He ran a cracker when finishing under a length behind the winner in a Group 3 contest over this course and distance last time. If fit and well, he may be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. TIBASTI’S last three starts have been very good having won twice and finishing second once. He should come into this race at peak fitness, but the slight concern is that he is having his first race on the turf. If suited to the surface and with Christophe Soumillon on board, he should have a decent chance of running into the money here.
Race 6 – PRIX DE CHEVILLY
ZALAMEA is the value bet on today’s card. He is much better than his last start on the all-weather surface suggests. The run that catches the eye is when finishing fourth over this distance at Toulouse in his penultimate start. He likes racing over this trip having won twice, finishing second twice and third three times from twenty attempts. He should be one of the fittest horses coming into this race and looks to be the one that can cause the upset. KIHAVAHFUSHI’S last two starts have been good. He was touched off in his last outing over a mile at Chantilly. The son of Wootton Bassett has won twice, finished second twice and third once from eight attempts over this distance. He makes his course debut this afternoon and if suited to the track, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. MAXIMUM AURELIUS got back to winning ways in fine style over this distance last time. The slight concern this afternoon is that he has to overcome a wide barrier position. If confirming his recent return to form, he has a decent chance of running into the money.
Race 7 – PRIX DE GLAGNY
This is a weak and open Class 3 Handicap and caution is advised. The narrow first selection is ABSOLUTE SUMMER who is a mare taking on the males. She produced some decent form before given a seven-month break. She has won once, finished second twice and third twice from fifteen attempts over this distance. If fit and well today, she may be the one they all have to beat. UCEL got back to winning ways in his last start under today’s 3kg claiming apprentice. He has been racing on the all-weather surface in recent outings and if transferring that form onto the grass today, he may be the one to pick up the pieces should the top selection fluff her lines. PATCHEWOLLOCK has not finished too far behind the winner in his last two starts over further on the all-weather surface. The transfer back to the turf should suit him well as all five of his career victories have come on this surface. He gets the services of the capable Tony Piccone and must be included in all bets.
Race 8 – PRIX DE GLATIGNY
GREEN CURRY from the Pia Brandt stable is another that is one of the better bets on today’s programme. He is a winner of his last three starts, the latest over which was over this distance at Chantilly on the all-weather surface. The transfer back to the grass should not pose an issue as he has won on this surface in the past. The son of Elusive City has won twice, finished second once and third three times from nine attempts over this distance. Maxime Guyon knows him very well and the combination should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure once again. SENATOR FROST has decent consistent form lines to his credit. The son of Lord Of England has finished second once from two starts on this course. He should be one of the fitter horses coming into this race and may be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. MY BUDDY’S last three starts have been very good. The son of Orpen has won twice, finished second once and third twice from seven attempts over this distance. The slight concern is that he must overcome a wide draw, but he will get all the necessary assistance from jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot.
Race 9 – PRIX CHEMIN VERT
ROCHENKA has finished second in her last two starts over this distance. She should come into this contest as one of the fitter horses as her last race was only 61 days ago. The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar gets the services of Pierre-Charles Boudot and may get rewarded for consistency today. LILI SPIRIT showed good signs of returning to best form when finishing second over 2500m at Deauville on the all-weather surface. She is suited to the drop in distance as she has won once and finished third once from three attempts over this trip. Tony Piccone knows the daughter of Spirit One well and the pair merit healthy respect. MEJAEN could be the first male past the winning post. He has good consistent recent form lines to his credit on the all-weather surface. If transferring that form onto the turf this afternoon, he should be right there in the run down to the wire.
Race 10 – PRIX CHEVALERET
ANSE DE BEL’AMANDE is a mare taking on the males and she has decent consistent form lines to her credit. Her record over the last twelve months is four wins, two seconds and a third-place finish from nine outings. If not in need of the run this afternoon, she should be the one they all have to beat. GOJI BERRY has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He has won once, finished second four times and third twice from thirteen attempts over this distance. He jumps from a handy barrier position this afternoon and must be included in all bets. POULFOS is not the most consistent sort, but he ran a good race when finishing half a length behind the winner over 1900m on the all-weather surface at Chantilly. The slight concern is that he is yet to place on the turf from four outings, but in this type of field, he should be able to run into the money today.
