The Prix de la Porte Maillot this evening looks a weak Group Three to my eyes considering favourite Marianafoot is on the wane and there is nothing in opposition that matches the likes of Duhail or Space Blues, who have turned up in the previous two editions.
By the admission of his trainer Jerome Reynier, Marianafoot isn’t as quick as he once was, but he ran better over C&D last time and will be tough to beat from a low draw.
The race has an ideal betting shape to it, with a favorite who has lost all three starts this year and several in opposition who may not run up to their ratings.
10-1 Amilcar has often been said to need a mile and he’s been slow to break on both starts this year in the UK.
6-1 Manjeer loves this C&D but needs fast ground and it’s currently raining heavily in Paris.
Spanish Intent is feared because she carries 5.5kg less than most of the runners as a three-year-old filly. She has black type but there isn’t a lot to her and given how satisfied the trainer was with that last time, she doesn’t exactly scream ‘good thing’ in a Group Three at odds of just 11/2.
Breizh Eagle is the tip of Laurent Barbarin but he hasn’t run up to his Poulains 3rd from last year and I think he’s a work in progress, who is also suited by fast ground.
My each-way selection is Namos for Germany, priced at 14-1 in a few places. I hope he strips fitter for his Chantilly return last month which came off an 11-month absence. Prior to that he was Germany’s top sprinter, winning the Golden Whip in great style in 2020 and was compared to Waldpfad at home, who is now a stallion and placed in the 2019 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.
Namos has been tried a few times at the highest level and has improved significantly for his seasonal reappearance for the past three years.
The rains today will suit both the German raider and Amedras, but I’m confident that the value is squarely with Namos based on his back-class and his excellent third over C&D last year, which can be considered a career best.
6.34pm Longchamp – Namos 1pt each-way @ 14-1 (William Hill, Fitzdares, Paddy Power, Quinn Bet etc. or 12-1)