An intriguing nine-race programme is scheduled for Clairefontaine on Thursday. The going is predicted to be good to soft. The best bet is XAARIO in Race 5. She tends to do her best work late and looks set to notch up another victory this afternoon.
Best Bet: XAARIO (Race 2)
Value Bet: POMELA LAUJAC (Race 3)
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|
Race
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Time
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Conditions
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1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
|
1
|
11:40
|
1400m – 2YO Handicap
|
5
|
7
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
|
2
|
12:10
|
1400m – 2YO Maiden
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
|
3
|
12:40
|
1400m – 2YO Maiden Fillies
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
|
4
|
13:10
|
1800m – Class 2 Handicap
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
8
|
5
|
|
5
|
13:50
|
1600m – Class 2 Handicap
|
16
|
12
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
|
6
|
14:25
|
2400m – Class 1 Handicap
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
1
|
|
7
|
15:00
|
2200m – Class 3 Handicap
|
6
|
4
|
7
|
2
|
9
|
|
8
|
15:35
|
1600m – Class 2 Handicap
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
9
|
1
|
|
9
|
16:10
|
1600m – Class 3 Handicap
|
6
|
7
|
10
|
2
|
9
|
|
Races (6 – 9) Jackpot
|
|||||
|
1
|
Line
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
|
8
|
Lines
|
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
|
54
|
Lines
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
10
|
|
96
|
Lines
|
|
|
9
|
2
|
|
200
|
Lines
|
|
6
|
1
|
9
|
Race 1
IMPERATORIO has placed in both starts and will benefit from a 3.5kgs claiming apprentice in the irons. RESCUERDAME pound plenty support on debut at Dieppe when placing third and looks the obvious threat to the top selection. LASTLOTOFTHESALE was well beaten on debut but will come on from the experience and can run into the places of this contest.
Race 2
XAARIO finished runner-up on debut at Saint-Cloud and with top rider Guyon in the saddle, he looks difficult to oppose in this contest. CHOCO CHARLY was right behind the top selection in his debut and with the scope that these juveniles have, he may be able to reverse the form with top selection. SMART EAGLE is a son of Gleneagles and gets world-class rider Soumillon in the irons. Any support in the market for him should be respected.
Race 3
POMELA LAUJAC wasn’t disgraced in her debut in a big field at Saint-Cloud on a slow track and will come on leaps with Soumillon in the saddle. CHERIE AMOUR placed in a small field last time and with the limited amount of form on offer, she looks the biggest threat to the top selection. TOKYO will benefit from her debut and can run into places of this contest.
Race 4
MOUJIK followed up his debut win positively when placing at Saint-Cloud and with not much form to recommend he looks like the horse that they all have to beat. GREAT DEAL returned fit in his comeback run when winning in good fashion at Angers and looks the biggest danger to the top selection. OXALIS is much better than his last start suggests. He won on debut under Maxime Guyon and disappointed next time out in yielding conditions. With the going more on top, he may be able to find a form return.
Race 5
THE CHOSEN ONE had good form before his last run which may suggest he possibly needed that effort. He placed in his penultimate start with Guyon up and on that run, he should be one that they will all look to out-gallop in the closing stages of the race. MISTER CHARLIE is at long-odds but he dispatched his opposition last time over this trip, beating The Big Smoke, and looks to have the scope to go on from that effort. The American-bred SHIELDING’S last start is best ignored and did place at this level in his penultimate effort at Toulouse.
Race 6
GREEN SPIRIT disappointed in his comeback run, but with the delays in racing around the world, one can expect this. He performed extremely well as a juvenile for Alex Badel and the pair can find a swift return to form this afternoon. BARATIN should be cherry-ripe having his third run after a rest and looks the biggest threat to the top selection. MEASURE OF TIME returns from a lengthy layoff but he showed true potential on debut and if fit, can upset in this contest.
Race 7
FRAME performed in heavy going last time out at Saint-Cloud but should be able to find a form return this afternoon. He gets Soumillon in the saddle which should make a notable difference. INCAMPO placed at Lyon last time over twelve furlongs so he should have no issue travelling over this distance. QUEVILLON placed in his comeback run at Lyon and may be able to pick up the pieces should the top two selections fail to run on in the closing stages.
Race 8
THE BIG SMOKE was beaten by Mister Charlie (Runs in Race 5) last time out. It will be intriguing to see how that form works out but regardless, he should be a big runner in this contest with Soumillon doing the work that matters. SENEPARK is well drawn and placed at Longchamp last time out. He looks like the biggest threat to the top selection. ASTERIOS has been finishing in the money recently and can run into the places again this afternoon.
Race 9
A very competitive Handicap is set to end the day’s proceedings. ZIGHIDI and MAZELTOF renew their recent rivalry. The pair are set to fight out the finish of the lucky last. A slight preference is for ZIGHIDI, he is 3kgs better off with the second selection, which may just be enough to reverse the form this afternoon. CANADA performed well in his comeback effort under Soumillon and one can expect him to challenge the top two selections.
