2017 Prix du Jockey Club Preview
1.55 Chantilly: Prix de Sandringham
The French 1,000 guineas third, Heuristique brings some great recent form in to this race but Senga should reverse the placing in very different conditions.
Heuristique finished third in the French classic and could have been even closer with a clearer run, but that was run at a decent pace on very soft ground and it will be very different in today’s race. Senga was sent off favourite for the 1,000 guineas but could only finish eleventh, 6 lengths behind Heuristique. With only 5 runners in today’s race and a distinct possibility that it could be lacking early pace on much quicker ground, it could pay to side with the speedier Senga who showed a good turn of foot to win the Prix de la Grotte on her seasonal debut in April.
3.15 Chantilly: Prix du Jockey Club
Brametot and Recoletos along with the William Haggas trained Rivet bring the best form in to this year’s French derby. Brametot looks the strongest of those and this longer trip looks to suit, especially as he can be slowly away, he looks the most likely winner.
Andre Fabre has won 3 of the last 7 runnings of this race and saddles 3 runners this year, in Soleil Marin, Plumatic and Waldgeist. Last year’s Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner, Waldgeist is the most notable of his 3 runners, but Fabre has said the trip is on the short side for him and also for his undefeated runner, Soleil Marin.
Plumatic is only a maiden winner, made his race course appearance just over 2 months ago and is thrown in at the deep end here. It is notable that after just two runs Andre Fabre steps him right up to this race after being beaten last time out in a group 3 contest but he said the he was in need of the run and given a fairly easy time under Guyon. Although he is the outsider of his 3 runners he does seem to think the race will really suit and that he will improve considerably on his last run. He is hovering around 16.0 on the PMU but is available at 22/1 with the UK bookies and much bigger on Betfair.
