Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Longchamp throughout the year.  Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips.

I’m heading back to Longchamp this afternoon and despite the midweek heartache with the well-handicapped Morea, we go again in handicap company!

I’ve waited to post this until seeing a few races to get an idea as to how the 4.35pm may pan out, given that the well-handicapped favourite, Loliwood, is a hold-up horse and doesn’t like the ground too testing.

Loliwood clocked fast fractions when last seen in Listed company at Saint-Cloud and probably found herself on the wrong part of the track in the final furlong. She needs to be held up, so despite having good course form here at Longchamp, it is a big concern for her supporters that three of the four winners already this afternoon made almost all the running and the other winner, Fortune, was placed handily throughout.

Territorywar got a big mention in a Race Sharp Stable Tour by Delcher-Sanchez in April after he won his maiden (read more here) and makes plenty of appeal on his handicap debut in the race. He has certainly been described to us as a 40+ horse and his rating of 39.5 looks lenient based on his spring form with both Bolchoi and Faro de San Juan. Moreover, this will be just his fifth start of the year and there was plenty of like about his Vichy return last month when narrowly beaten by five-furlong specialist Josejoséphine over her trip.

He showed plenty of pace and we know he gets further. Drawn in two today, even if they come away from the rail, as they did in the Quinte, Barzalona should be able to get Territorywar in a good position in order to use his turn of foot. Hopefully Territorywar can be his stable’s third winner of the weekend after Zudu Spirit won yesterday and Sword Song created a small shock in the opener today.

4.35pm Longchamp – 2pts win Territorywar @ 4-1 (all firms)

Best Bookmaker Offers Today