Prix Du Jockey Club 2011

2.08 Chantilly

Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) (3YO only)

Winner €958,201

Picks: Baraan (win), Bubble Chic (each/way)

Glaswegian: Improved for every racecourse experience, building on modest juvenile form when giving 3lbs to subsequent listed winner Modern History ; Better still when winning Prix de Fontainebleau but didn’t back that up when well beaten eight behind Tin Horse in French Guineas last time (always well placed to strike) & hard to see him winning this.

Baraan: Needed the run on his only start as 2yo; Broke his maiden with ease on AW and used uncontested lead to his advantage when quickening well to win strong renewal of Prix La Force last time out, with Group 2 winner Prairie Star and subsequent Greffulhe & Derby winner Pour Moi in third; No doubting that is strongest form in race (albeit it cannot be taken on face value) and should go very close.

Sandagiyr: Improved with each start (as with many in field), getting up in nick of time to land conditions contest before taking Listed contest with ease; Step in trip should prove no trouble (half-brother to French Oaks winner/Arc third Sarafina) but outside draw compromises his chance; Booking of Murtagh speaks volumes.

Sain Desir: Sent off as short as 11/2 for the Prix Greffulhe, having won his previous two starts in easy fashion; That promise rather lost with weak display last time out and won’t be reversing form with Bubble Chic.

Prairie 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 showed benefit of that run when edging out Grand Vent by a nose in Prix Hocquart at Longchamp latest; Has every chance on that form, with stronger pace better for him (last two wins over a furlong further than todays).

Crackerjack King: Unbeaten in four races, having stormed home with the Italian Derby latest (beat another unbeaten horse, who has since romped home in Listed race); That form gives him strong chance and should not be underestimated.

Nobel Winner: Ended his juvenile career with an effortless victory at Saint-Cloud and that form has worked out; Was running on when fourth in the Listed Prix Francois Mathet on his seasonal debut and may not have been suited by switching out wide late; Has a little to prove after that but notable jockey booking and foolish to dismiss.

Casamento: Wasn't extended when making all in a 7f Tipperary maiden and took off from that, pushing Pathfork all the way in the National before winning the Beresford and National Stakes in style of a serious prospect; Chased a fierce pace early on in the Guineas and one of first beaten, but foolish to assume that’s his form & better can be expected her over a trip that should suit on breeding.

Grand Vent: Progressive at two, although beaten on seasonal debut with ease by Vadamar; Improved when running on strongly inside the final furlong to land the Group 2 Prix Noailles and rather lost out in a battle of noses when edged out by Pirarie Star in the Hocquart; Another in with a decent chance.

Colombian: Improved for step up in trip when a well backed and clear cut winner of Chester maiden last time out (had suffered trouble in running on seasonal debut); Interesting that he runs here for connections who had Questioning behind Pour Moi in Greffulhe but form of his win took a knock when second was well beaten in Epsom handicap yesterday.

Roderic O’Connor: Took a major step forward with every run last season, beating very useful stablemate before making running to furlong out in Dewhurst Stakes, impressing with speed &then made easy work of field in Criterium International (despite veering); Disappointed in 2,000 Guineas but chased too hard a pace and unfit, so clear that Irish 2,000 win was more accurate reflection of his ability (despite looking like a weak race); Should stay trip and rates as one of the best chances from nice draw, for all that yard’s record offputting (no winners).

Tin Horse: Looked like horse with future when bolting up by a combined total of 7 lengths on his first 2 starts, barely extended to beat Realisatrice and Zack Yield; Well beaten in Robert Papin but shaped completely differently in the Morny/Prix Jean Luc; Turned promise into classic success when running away with the French 2,000 Guineas latest and while he will stay, draw of 12 not exactly ideal.

Reliable Man: Two from two, so must be respected if connections (trainer has 5 wins in this race, Jockey two) have entered him in this; That said, this a huge step up and second string from yard.

Veter: A six length winner on his only two year old start, but well behind in listed race on reappearance and beaten by reopposing Reliable Man latest.

Absolutly Yes: Improved markedly on decidedly average two year old form when he took the traditional C&D trial for this (Prix De Guiche) in good style, finding when challenged; That race lacks strength in depth however and hard to fancy from outside draw.

Bubble Chic: Finished second on his last 5 starts, although that not for want of trying and has form to match the best here, not least when best of the rest behind Derby winner Pour Moi in the Greffulhe last time out; Plum inside draw to help him and massively overpriced on balance.

VERDICT: A wide open renewal but a good one, with the winners of the Irish and French Guineas in attendance. The disappointing record of Ballydoyle in this race will put many off Roderic O’Connor but he’s travelled and won a Group 1 here so may have a better chance than most previous chance from a good draw, assuming he gets a nice trip. French Guineas winner Tin Horse can be given a big chance, but it may be worth siding with BARAAN, who’s Prix La Force win (albeit with an uncontested lead and fitness advantage) gives him excellent claims & he’s clearly been targeted at this for a while. Pirarie Star, second behind the choice on his seasonal debut, can go well along with Grand Vent, who might want a step up in trip based on his Hocquart run. Casamento has legitimate claims, having bypassed Epsom for this following a rather unplanned pipe opener for this in the Guineas, while Crackerjack King can’t be underestimated but the big value lies with BUBBLE CHIC, who has multiple strong form claims and is widely available at double figures.