Cortessa loves this All-Weather track at Chantilly and she looks a good bet to gain a third career success today.
The lightly-raced five year old shed her maiden tag over a mile here in January 2021 and finished runner-up over CD on her next outing the following month.
Off for just over a year, she returned with two creditable efforts on turf, but showed improved form to land a CD handicap with the minimum of fuss in April. Soumillon was in the saddle for the first time that day.
She was just pipped back at a mile here last time, but ran a fine race in defeat, was closing at the line and the front pair drew clear. That form has been very well-advertised since, with next time out wins for the fourth and fifth.
Stepped back up to this 1m1.5f trip, she has been found a winnable race and is a confident selection.
RECOMMENDED BET: 4.14pm Chantilly – Cortessa win @ 2-1 (all firms)
The 6.00pm is a five-furlong dash up the straight course, where it will pay to be drawn low. Suesa undoubtedly showed Group One quality when winning at Goodwood 11 months ago but has been below form this term. Headgear could bring about a revival today but she is well-drawn in the market and the trainer of Berneuil is confident that he will be more competitive today on better ground.
The gelded son of Lope De Vega looks a fair each-way bet against the moody mare Suesa.
RECOMMENDED BET: 6.00pm Chantilly – Berneuil each-way @ 5-1 (all firms)
Joie De Soir looks a solid proposition down in class in the concluding listed this evening for stayers. She is winless in her last six however, albeit at a high level, and she looks vulnerable to Control Tower, providing Nicolas Clement’s mare doesn’t mind goodish ground.
Control Tower gave Joie De Soir weight and a comprehensive beating when they met at Saint-Cloud last year. Although conditions are different today, the odds differential is too big. Honor And Pleasure was nominated for Italian Group Races over 12 furlongs earlier this season but has come alive over staying trips on the all weather. He holds a good chance here but it is a concern that all his improved form has been on the polytrack.
RECOMMENDED BET: 7.50pm Chantilly – Control Tower each-way @ 11/2 (all firms)