An eight-race card at Deauville today that features the Group 3 Classic Trials, the Prix Djebel and the Prix Impudence – worth a check of today’s Francis Graffard stable tour for his opinions on Malavath!

We’ll head to the fillies’ maiden for our first bet on the card, where I’m taking a chance on Hush Angels on her reappearance.  She ran an eye-catching race on debut at ParisLongchamp last year, finishing a close-up fifth in what is traditionally a really strong maiden, won by Saturday’s Group 3 Prix Penelope winner Agave.  The runner-up won a Listed on her next outing and the fourth has been Listed-placed since.

Hush Angels had to wait for her run that day, but her final furlong was the fastest of any in the field, so it’s fair to say this sister to the Canadian Grade 1 2yo winner Capla Temptress (later fourth in the 2018 Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches) has her share of ability.

Her next run, when fourth at Chantilly, wasn’t quite at the same level, but she was given a very different ride that day and the form is still fair.  It’s interesting that the tongue-tie goes on today, which suggests all may not have been quite right on that second start.

The beautifully-bred Galla is an unknown quantity on debut, but I’m not convinced this is the strongest contest based on those with previous form, so hopefully Hush Angels can run a big race on her reappearance.

3.10pm Deauville – 1pt win, 0.5pt place Hush Angels @ 17/2 (various)

 

The third division of the 1900m handicap (4.20pm, takes place before the second division which concludes the card) looks open enough, but I think Equilot is overpriced at 14-1.

He nearly shed his maiden tag here in November, beaten a short-head by one that followed up in a handicap off 32 next time.  He again when close when second over this CD in February off this mark, the form of which has been franked by those in behind.

You can forget his run at Chantilly last time, when he had no run in the straight, and he remains on what is a very winnable mark.

Markus Nigge had a really slow start to the year, but his team are clearly turning a corner, with a winner and two seconds from his last four runners.  With the return to this course an obvious plus, the 14-1 on offer is worth taking.

4.20pm Deauville – 1pt each-way Equilot @ 14-1 4 places (5 places with Skybet)