Prix Hocquart 2011

1.30 Longchamp

Prix Hocquart (Group 2) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner €89,479 - 5 run

Pick: Grand Vent (win)

Barentin: Winner of his second two year old start but seemingly not progressed from that this year, unable to win twice (respectable effort latest) in conditions contest at Toulouse and here latest; May struggle on this step up in class.

Pirarie Star: Progressive at 2, winning three times including Group 3 event over 9 furlongs here before a well beaten third behind Recital in the Criterium De Saint Cloud; was three-quarters of a length behind Baraan on his seasonal debut in the Prix La Force, and can improve on that form (been boosted since) yet again here.

Lindenhaller: Unbeaten in three races, he looked in a class of his own when he took the Group 3 Dr Busch Memorial in good style last month at Krefeld, beating a better fancied stablemate; Speaks volumes that he’s sent here today and can take a big hand.

Genius Beast: Built on already solid two year old form when a clear cut and decisive winner of the Bet 365 Classic Trial at Sandown, taking advantage of whole field dispersing across the track; Should improve from that but class credentials will undergo fierce test today.

Grand Vent: Has two wins from five starts, and notable how they have both been on good ground; Looked like an extra furlong was well within his reach  n strongly inside the final furlong last time to land the Group 2 Prix Noailles; That form gives him solid chance, and major contender.

VERDICT: Plenty of rain has fallen in the early hours of this morning so it should be a decent test of stamina, although maybe they’ll go slower in this event. Genius Beast was a clear cut winner of the Classic Trial but this is a widely different test and it may be that GRAND VENT is best suited to how things turn out today.  Lindenhaller and Prairie Star make this a proper test.