International Racing: Lyon-Parilly – Thursday 28 May 2020

Racing is back at Lyon-Parilly on Thursday for a competitive ten-race programme. The meeting includes Hurdle Race for three-year-olds and a Steeple Chase for older horses. The best bet on the card is EVE in Race 1. She produced a promising debut effort when finishing third and with the natural improvement that is expected, she should take a power of beating. 

Best Bet: EVE (Race 1)
Value Bet: RIP (Race 5) 

Race 1 – PRIX DES CYCLAMENS
EVE is the best bet on this afternoon’s programme. She produced a promising debut effort when finishing third over the minimum trip on this course. She would have gained from the experience and should have improvement to come. The manner in which she finished off her race last time suggests that she will enjoy the extra furlong on offer. BLACK MIMI produced a fair debut effort when finishing 4.6 lengths behind the top selection in the race referred to above. As the pair meet on the same weight terms this afternoon, she may have to settle for the same result. However, she would have come on from the run and should make the natural improvement to finish a lot closer. TOFANE is a daughter of Dabirsim from the A & G Botti stable. She cost her owners EUR € 36,000. If not too green this afternoon, she should have a decent chance of earning a cheque.

Race 2 – PRIX DE LA CROIX ROUSSE
This is a weak race over Hurdles and extreme caution is advised. The very tentative first selection is BIG ONE. He was considered good enough to race in Listed company on debut but was unfortunately pulled up. He takes a big drop-in class this afternoon and with the natural improvement that is expected, he should be the one to beat. He gets the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice which should help his cause. INDIAN SONG has produced three fair runs to date. She steps up to the 3400m for the first time and if seeing out the extra distance on offer, she should be right there in the run down to the wire. POINTE ROUGE’S recent form on the all-weather surface has been moderate. She tries further and the hurdles for the first time, which may be what she is looking for. She gets the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice this afternoon and if suited to the style of racing, she has a decent chance of earning a cheque in this field.

Race 3 – PRIX PAUL DUGAS 
The betting market could be the best guide in this contest as one of the first-timers in the race could come to the fore. BEAUTIFUL TIMING is a daughter of Dubawi from the Henri-Alex Pantall stable with a 3.5kg claiming apprentice in the saddle. She cost her owners GNS 700,000. If not too green this afternoon, she has a good chance of getting her career off to a winning start. LISTENTOME is a daughter of Galileo from the Francis Graffard yard. She doesn’t have to be a stable superstar to win in this type of field. Roman Thomas does duty and the combination must be included in all bets. LOVELY DOLLY produced a decent debut effort over 2150m at Lyon La Soie on the all-weather surface. The way she finished off her race that day suggests that she will enjoy the extra distance on offer this afternoon. She tries the turf for the first time and if suited to the surface, should be right there in the fight to the finish. 

Race 4 – PRIX DU MONT SAINT-RIGAUD
The next race on the programme is a Steeple Chase contest. WAKISASHI ONE produced a very good comeback run when finishing fourth over 3600m at Moulins. He tries the distance for the first time, but on breeding, he should have no issues with the rise in trip. He should strip a much fitter horse today and with Theo Chevillard retaining the ride, the combination may find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. ROXO HAS is a maiden taking on winners, but his last start over 3800m at Angers was encouraging. He does take on stronger opposition this afternoon, but he is lightly raced and looks progressive. Should the top selection fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. KORUM is another maiden taking on winners, but his last two starts have been fair. He takes a big rise in distance this afternoon and if seeing out the extra distance on offer, he should have a say in the outcome of this race.

Race 5 – PRIX DE L’ANNIVERSAIRE
RIP is the value bet on today’s card. He needed his last start over a mile at Marseilles Borely and he likes racing on this course having won once and finishing second once from as many starts. He should have no issues with the rise in distance and on best form shown, may be the one they all have to beat. ASHTARA ran a good race when finishing second over this distance at Fontainebleau last time. She has won once and finished second once from as many attempts over this trip. She should have no concerns with regards to fitness and might be the one to pick up the pieces, should the top selection fluff his lines. CHEVALIER CATHARE’S last start can be completely ignored as something went amiss. He returns from a lengthy eight-month break, which may have done him the world of good. He jumps from a handy barrier position today and if not in need of the run, he should have a good chance of running into the money.

Race 6 – PRIX TOP WAY
GELINKA produced a decent comeback run when taking on stronger company over 2100m at Saint-Cloud last time. She takes a drop-in class this afternoon and from pole position, she is the one they all have to beat. The daughter of Rail Link gets the services of a 4kg claiming apprentice which should help her cause. WOOT CITY ran a good race over eleven furlongs on this course last time. He has finished second once and third twice from five starts on this track. He is having his second run after a rest today and should strip a much fitter horse. He should be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. ADELPHIE showed signs of needing her last start when finishing 3.2 lengths behind the second selection. The pair meet on the same weight terms this afternoon and she may have to settle for the same result. However, she may be better suited to today’s distance at this stage of her career and should finish closer in this contest.

Race 7 – PRIX DE MONPLAISIR
This is a weak Class 3 Handicap and caution is advised. The narrow first selection is BARCHETTA who is a maiden taking on winners, but her last three starts have been good. She has finished second twice and third once from as many outings on this course. She is distance suited and with her regular 1.5kg claiming apprentice on board, she should be the one to side with here. MISVA has not finished too far off the winner in her recent form. She has won once, finished second once and third once from twelve attempts over this distance. The grey mare should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon and should throw out a big challenge to the top choice. LA FIBRE produced a decent comeback run when finishing 2.2 lengths off the winner over this course and distance last time. He is having his second run after a rest today and should strip much fitter. With a bit of luck from his wide barrier position, he should be involved in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 8 – PRIX DE BELLECOMBE
STORM KATY produced a very good comeback run when finishing second over this course and distance last time. She has finished second twice and third once from as many starts on this track. The daughter of Sommerabend should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon and with Sylvain Ruis retaining the ride, she should be the one to beat. ENJOY THE SILENCE finished 1.7 lengths behind the top choice last time. She is 0.5kgs worse off at the weights today and may have to settle for the same result. She likes racing over this distance as she has won five times, finished second seven times and third five times from 44 attempts. She jumps from a positive barrier position and must be included in all bets. DARK ROAD produced a fair comeback run when finishing 3.5 lengths behind the top selection in the race referred to above. He is 0.5kgs worse off at the weights this afternoon and may find it difficult to turn the tables. However, he is drawn in pole position and should finish closer.

Race 9 – PRIX SAUMON 
DIAM SPIRIT produced a fair comeback run when finishing fourth over this distance last time. She has a decent record on this course having finished second three times and third once from six outings. Iortiz Mendizabal retains the ride this afternoon and the combination should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. MONTE CHINTO showed good signs of a form return in his last start over this distance at Longchamp. The three-year-old son of Make Believe should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon and might be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. DIVA DU DANCING has not finished too far off the winner in her last three starts. She has won once and finished second once from five races this season. 3kg claiming apprentice Aude Duporte knows the daughter of Silver Frost well and the combination cannot be ignored.

Race 10 – PRIX DE GERLAND 
This is a weak Class 4 Handicap to close off the meeting and caution is advised. The tentative first selection is CHARLY from the Frau Vollmer stable. He was touched off in his comeback run over this distance at Strasbourg last time. The grey gelding drops back to Class 4 company this afternoon and might be too good for the rest of this field. RIQUET showed very good signs of a form return when finishing second over this distance at Vichy last time. He makes his course debut this afternoon and if suited to the track, should be right there in the run down to the wire. Sebastian Maillot retains the ride which is encouraging. KARYNIA is a mare taking on the males. She was in need of her last start over this distance at Longchamp. Her record over this distance is decent having won three times, finishing second twice and third twice from 21 attempts. With a bit of luck from her wide barrier position and on best form shown, she should have a decent chance of running into the money.