Sacred Life Looks a Solid Favourite in the Criterium International
13.35 Saint Cloud, Criterium de Saint-Cloud
Luminate looked really good when beating the colts in the group 3 Prix du Conde where Stage Magic who re-opposes today dropped away tamely after making the running. Stage Magic was an odds-on favourite for their last race but comes in here at 14/1 after finishing well beaten sixth of six and this step up to 10 furlongs has to be a worry.
Aiden O’Brien fields 4 of the 7 runners in this race and although he has no stand-out runner in here, the Galileo colts could improve for the step up to 10 furlongs. At the prices I am tempted to side with Luminate at 100/30 with Bet365; who is just 2.1 on the PMU. She is unbeaten in two starts and has already won impressively over 9 furlongs on very soft ground, so this extra furlong will not worry. The only negative for me has to be the record of fillies in this race and how they have fared this season against the colts, but at 100/30 it is still a fair price and should be much bigger than the PMU.
Recommended Bet
Luminate, 100/30, Bet365
Aiden O’Brien has won this race four times, last time in 2015 with Johannes Vermeer, but he doesn’t look to have a great chance this year with Threeandfourpence. He has just the one win in three starts and being by War Front, soft ground has to be a big negative.
The English and Irish juveniles have had the upper-hand in France this season, but this year’s race looks to have a strong home defence. Sacred Life has won all his three starts, his last two by 5 and 6 lengths on soft ground and he looks a solid favourite on the forecast soft ground. The softer the ground is the better it will be for Sacred Life while the English and Irish raiders would probably appreciate better ground. Andre Fabre’s Cascadian has won 2 of his 3 starts and could be improving, despite being beaten when stepping up to listed level; he is 12/1 with the UK bookies. Sacred Life is sure to go off favourite, currently 1.7 on the PMU, but a more generous 7/4 with the UK bookies, this has to be the bet; he has looked so impressive in his last 2 races on similar ground and looks much better than anything else in the field.
Recommended Bet
Sacred Life, 7/4, generally available
