Saint-Cloud’s feature is today and although the supporting card isn’t a lot to write home about, we have two bets this afternoon.
In the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at 3.00pm, favourite Hurricane Lane is expected to strip fitter for his Ascot reappearance but you sense that he is still a work in progress and would prefer soft conditions.
Drying ground throughout the day will certainly be against Andre Fabre’s ace Mare Australis and would suit his second string, Baratti.
The Juddmonte-bred Frankel colt is from a top family, including the likes of Finche and Byword. He needs quick ground and the fact he jumps straight from a Listed into Group One company is usually a sign from the master trainer. His win over 12 furlongs last time was in a warm listed for the grade and the price discrepancy is still too big between Baratti at 22-1 and Third Realm at 8-1.
With nine runners and a short-priced favourite, he is an each-way bet.
3.00pm Saint-Cloud – 1pt each-way Baratti @ 22-1 (generally available, 33-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook or 25-1 with William Hill)
The 4.10pm handicap over 2,100m looks trappy on paper, with five making their handicap debut in a field of 12, but there is one that is worth supporting at a price.
Eye Love You was a fair winner of a provincial maiden in May, beating a good yardstick from an unpromising position. She found a Classe 2 event a bit warm at this course last month, but it’s interesting that she is turned around quite quickly by her trainer. She was handed a mark of 33.0 which looks workable – she finished her race with a bit left in the tank, edging out a 35.5-rated colt.
The market suspects that Jerome Reynier has another well-handicapped three-year-old in Born In Purple, but I’m just as interested in Chotard’s Eye Love You. She’s the bet at 8-1 and it’s promising that she’s been nibbled in the market already this morning.
4.10pm Saint-Cloud – 1pt win Eye Love You @ 8-1 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, Sporting Index, Coral, Ladbrokes or 15/2 available elsewhere)