Where to catch the best of Britain and Ireland across Chantilly's classy card
While the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club hogs the limelight at Chantilly on Sunday, there is an excellent supporting card boasting a host of chances for the British and Irish to pocket some euros.
2.20 Grand Prix de Chantilly (Group, 2 4yo+ 1m4f)
The home team are guaranteed a win on the board by this stage as all seven fillies in the Group 3 Prix du Royaumont (1.45) are trained in France. The ex-German trained Grocer Jack is the first of three chances on the card for William Haggas and Tom Marquand – and the rider also takes the ride on Ancient Rome for Andre Fabre in the Jockey Club. Grocer Jack has his first start in Europe for Haggas after running fifth to Authority in Saudi Arabia and then being a late non-runner from the Dubai World Cup.
Main French danger:Mare Australis has always looked like he wants a mile and a half and heads a high-quality field, which also features the hugely-promising Fenelon
3.00 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1, 3yo colts & fillies, 1m2½f)
Modern Games bids to become the fifth colt to double up in the French 2,000 Guineas and Derby since the latter's race distance was cut down from a mile and a half in 2005, and holds a leading chance if he can overcome a wide draw in stall 13. El Bodegon has a Group 1 win in France to his credit and would benefit if the forecast storms arrive. Imperial Fighter ran a career best when third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and steps up to ten furlongs for the first time. Aidan O'Brien landed his first Jockey Club with St Mark's Basilica and on what they've shown so far, neither Ivy League nor The Acropolis look within hailing distance of that class.
Main French danger:While on form others have achieved more it was impossible not to be impressed by Al Hakeem in his Listed trial here, after which trainer Jean-Claude Rouget compared him to Arc winner Sottsass
4.20 Prix Sandringham (Group 2, 3yo fillies, 1m)
Purplepay was third in the Group 1 Criterium International last year before being bought to join the Haggas team and can be expected to improve on her seasonal reappearance when seventh in the Irish 1,000 Guineas a fortnight ago. Fonteyn built on her fine comeback run to down Grande Dame in a Listed race at York. That race has thrown up Group-race performers such as Chachamaidee and Nemoralia in recent seasons.
Main French danger:Sicilian Defense was not beaten far in the French 1,000 Guineas despite a compromising wide draw and a troubled passage up the Longchamp straight
4.55 Prix Marchand D'Or (Listed, 3yo, 6f)
Perfect News completes the Haggas and Marqand challenge and drops down two furlongs after appearing not to get home when fifth behind Fonteyn at York. Hellomydarlin ran arguably a career best when third to Atomic Force over this course and distance in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin, but she has not been done a huge favour by the draw in stall 11.
Main French danger:The imposing Le Cadeau took a while to see daylight when second in the Group 3 Prix Texanita over this course and distance and a repeat of that effort might be good enough
5.30 Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2, 3yo+ 5f)
Saint Lawrence can potentially be marked up on his comeback third in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket given he was drawn in stall ten on a day when low numbers seemed to enjoy an advantage. Dylan Browne McMonagle takes his first professional ride in France aboard the Joseph O'Brien-trained Brostaigh, who gets all the allowances as a three-year-old filly and showed a great attitude to repel the opposition in a Listed race at Naas last month. Between Karl Burke's two runners, White Lavender would benefit from the rain getting into the ground, while Guilded would prefer the storms to bypass Chantilly.
Main French danger:Berneuil looked to be coming back to himself when nosing out Suesa for second in the Group 3 Prix Saint-Georges last time and holds the best level of form on offer, though Air De Valse is not discounted from stall one
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