There are a few with chances in the Prix Helen Street this afternoon, not least the 45.0-rated Joli Coup, who has been tried in higher company than this but is only put in as the third choice of the Paris Turf.
The excellently-named Wootton Diva heads the betting for local trainer Stéphane Wattel and is the only one with an unbeaten record to their name. The homebred daughter of Wootton Bassett won a fillies maiden over this C&D a month ago and this is a logical step up in grade. She’s reportedly had some growing pains but has a touch of quality about her and led home three Andre Fabre-trained fillies in that maiden.
Wootton Diva could be value for more, having slightly missed the break, but I’d be concerned about her lack of experience at odds of 6/4 and that just half a length separated first to fifth. She could be a 40.0+ filly in waiting but the percentage call is to assume that those five fillies ran to the mid to high 30s on debut.
The provincial form of Lily Rose and Zelzalita looks at a similar level. The Prix Kerautem was won by a Henri-Alex Pantall colt, Anthorus, who is well-regarded, but both are cutting back 500m in trip today and could find things happening a bit quickly on the polytrack, having exclusively raced on soft turf to date.
Kanifushi may not boast the sexy stallion and unbeaten record of the favourite, but lines up here on the back of a C&D win in a time almost three seconds quicker than Wootton Diva. Of course there are mitigating factors, different weights and the fact that it was Wootton Diva’s debut, but Kanifushi ran no sort of race on debut and only came alive on his second start with the full blinkers fitted. It could be a tip that he’s been well-fancied in the betting on both starts and we know from his trainer’s post-maiden win interview that this brother to G1-placed Rangali reportedly works well at home.
There is plenty left to work on and granted even slight improvement, I expect Kanifushi to run a big race on what is Luka Rousseau’s only ride on the card.
2.35pm Deauville – 1pt win Kanifushi @ 5-1 (all bookmakers)