1.35 Maisons-Laffitte Prix Robert Papin
The British raiders have a great record in this race with Clive Cox and Richard Hannon winning 4 of the last 5 renewals. The two trainers come here with two strong contenders this year in the Royal Ascot winner Heartache who looks to go off an odds-on favourite on both sides of the Channel and De Bruyne Horse.
The Clive Cox trained Heartache looked very impressive in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, beating the well-touted Happy Like A Fool comfortably. That race was over 5 furlongs and good to firm ground and while it’s over an extra half a furlong on good to soft it shouldn’t be a problem for this talented horse. He looks likely to go off shorter on the PMU in France, so the 4/5 available with the UK bookies looks a decent price considering his level of form which is far superior to anything else in this field.
While the stats and form point to Heartache, if you don’t fancy taking a short price about the favourite then you could chance the Criquette Head-Maarek trained High Dream Milena at a best priced 10/1 with the UK bookies.
She, along with Heartache is the only other filly in the race. While she only has a single run under her belt in a maiden for unraced fillies, she did look impressive and imposing, despite being a late foal. She is by the new sire Dabirsim, who also produced the recent Albany winner Different League, whom she does seem very similar to, both physically and being very speedy.
Head-Maarek trained the 2009 winner Special Duty, who went on to win the 2010 French and English Guineas in the steward’s room. Its possible High Dream Milena could be of the same calibre with her trainer shipping her straight in to a group two after winning a maiden race; at the prices I’ll chance her on her trainer’s great record with fillies.
Recommended Bets
High Dream Milena, 10/1 with Betstars and Betway
