Prix Jean Prat 2012

2.40 Chantilly

Prix Jean Prat (Group 1) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (Turf) (3yo) Winner £190,467

Advice: 3 pts win French Fifteen (2/1 general)

French Fifteen: Rapidly progressive with racing last year, improving from Listed win and 3 length defeat to Abtaal at Saint Cloud with impressive Group 1 win in Criterium International on his final start last season; Came back in good style when landing the Prix Debej and then pushed Camelot (not really a miler but still top class) all the way in the 2,000 Guineas, going down by little more than a neck; Some can crab the form but Hermival since given it substance with second in St James’s Place ahead of Gregorian in 3^rd and with French Derby effort a throwout he can go close here.

Arnold Lane: Beaten in three good races since winning on 2yo debut, running into good horses each time, but well beaten on step up to Group 1 level in Middle Park; Step upto a mile and soft ground seemed to bring the best out of him last time out when winning Chester handicap and that form franked big style by Gabrial winning Betfair Bowl (he may have drifted but he was getting 4lbs); No idea of how he’d have gotten on in St James’s Palace Stakes when barged around home turn although Gabrial did the form no harm; Others still just preferred.

Aesop’s Fables: Best effort yet when close third behind Moonlight Cloud in 7f Group 3 at Longchamp lastest; That excellent form and bred to improve upped in trip although others make more appeal today.

Gregorian: Improved hand over fist this season according to ratings, and confirmed his French Guineas fifth to be no fluke when close up third in the St James’s Palace Stakes latest; That literal form gives him a chance so respected with stable still firing on all guns here.

Coup De Theatre: Beat French Guineas winner in Listed company at Toulouse two starts back but not anywhere close to that form since and passed over here.

Xanadou: Some would argue that he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten, having been badly bumped when fourth behind Sofast and Saint Baudolino (fading having looked like a potential winner); Put that right with impressive won over a mile here previously and deserves respect.

Caspar Netscher: Won German 2,000 Guineas and Greenham this season, those two wins sandwhiched by Guineas disappointment when not well placed (better than the distances suggest); Strong at the end of his races so will be hard to get beat and another one who deserves respect.

Sofast: Very promising 2 year old career followed up with fair third on comeback and even better when ahead of Xanadou (stayed better) when second in the Prix De Guiche over 9 furlongs here; No run in French Derby so forgiven and thereabouts despite the fact that runner up sure to be better over a mile.

VERDICT: A tight renewal from all angles. Xanadou is sure to be popular back at a mile and deserves respect but FRENCH FIFTEEN’s guineas second has since been made to look a little better by Hermival, and with his French Derby effort a throwout due to the roughness of the race, this is an ample opportunity for compensation. Sofast has to be given his chance too and Caspar Nestcher has been overlooked a little, but Nicolas Clement’s colt looks to have a good shout of winning his second Group 1.