Prix Du Jockey Club 2013

3.15 Chantilly

Prix Du Jockey Club (group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner €887,850

Advice: 5 pts win Intello (2/1 general), 1 pt each/way Loch Garman (10/1 general)

Dalwari: Disappointing when beaten on return in conditions race latest given just how ready he was when winning November newcomers event here on debut but can’t deny how taking his turn of foot was to win Prix Du Guiche over furlong shorter than this; Potential to do better, but drawn wide in 16, never raced over ground this soft, and this obviously a much tougher race.

Shikarpour: Made a smooth winning debut when landing Longchamp maiden (1m3f), and interesting that winner of this race three times in last 10 years sees fit to send him here after just that one run and decent draw in 6 but will have to have made phenomenal progress in that given time.

Mshawish: Smooth winner of Prix Birum on return but unable to lay a hand of Dalwari in Guiche and don’t see him landing a major blow.

Loch Garman: Unbeaten as a juvenile, landing Navan maiden (since worked out well) and then landing Saint Cloud’s Criterium International, both runs over 1m on heavy ground, meaning today’s ground not a problem), and excellent return when second to yesterday’s Derby fourth Battle of Marengo in Derrinstown Stud on his return; Should improve for that and can go well once again

Lion D’Anvers: Took Fontainebleau listed event in fine style but unable to land a blow in the Poulian latest and this looks well beyond him to be honest.

Max Dynamnite: Improved this season and defeats to Tableux and Ocovango don’t look so bad now, but up against it on latest seventh in Hoqcuart, and nightmare draw in 17^th.

Haya Kan: No hope here based on his continuing efforts of falling short in handicaps.

Sky Hunter: This his first group start but seemingly limitless promise based on his maiden win at Masions-Laffite and his pair of conditions stakes wins this season, badly touched for easy successes over 10 and 11 furlongs in April and May.

Milano Blues: Pair of runner up efforts at Bourdeaux latest but well beaten on only pattern effort.

Dastharon: Surprise shock when second in Poulains, outrunning odds of 50/1 to come late second and stepping up hugely on AW form (winner here at 2); If able to repeat that form, then holds a chance here, for all 2that Intello suffered far worse run there; Respected.

Glacial Age: Eight length beating in Dee Stakes pretty much confirms that he’s not good enough to be considered here.

 

Beyond Thankful: Looks to be a pacemaker for Loch Garman based on all previous form.

Ares D’Emra: Impressive winner of the Prix Delahunte on last start as 2yo but since fallen short in such company and others make more appeal here.

Bravodino: Won once from three starts but both those defeats came to the Derby fifth Ocovango, who performed with credit at Epsom yesterday considering the lack of room he suffered from stall one, and looked to have improved sififcantly based upon his close finish to Prix Greffuhe; Should go well.

Wille the Whipper: Never quite looked happy on the track when a nose behind Galcial Age in the Dee Stakes on his return, but 7 lengths behind Morandi on final 2 year old start and unlikely to land a blow here; Stall 15 could also prove fairly problematic.

Superplex: Beat below par Dalwari in conditions race at Longchamp; Never correctly placed to land a blow in the Greffulhe and was making some late headway there, but still inferior to Bravodino on that form and hard to see him playing a big part.

First Conerstone: Made impressive progress so far in just the four runs, landing Listed event at 33-1 and four runner Fruity Stakes at Curragh, both in testing conditions, before Racing Post Trophy fourth; Return on Irish Guineas was a more than decent effort and step back up towards 10f/soft ground will suit, so entitled to improve for all others look stronger.

Morandi: One of the most impressive 2yo’s around last season given his favourable conditions of heavy ground, destroying opposition in the Prix La Conde and then Criterium International, winning those two fields by a combined distance of 19 lengths; Not as good this season,, although badly needed reappearance and was making steady progress towards the end of the Poulains, on ground that wouldn’t have suited him, so chance here.

Intello: Began to really start building on debut promise when landing Fielden Stakes in fine style at Newmarket, but looked to be potentially special when so very nearly defying stall 17 in French Guineas, twice blocked in attempting for a run before flashing only a second too late; Would certainly have won with a clearer run and more distance and may get both today, so worth another chance and worthy favourite;

VERDICT: A fiercely contested renewal as always; as per usual, a giant field places plenty of importance upon the draw and position. Both of those cost INTELLO near certain victory in the French Guineas, but from stall 10 he should be able to settle himself into a much better position early and with clear running, he will take a world of beating and is well worth backing even at a skinny looking 2/1. Morandi, Sky Hunter and Bravodino all have realistic claims, but LOCH GARMAN may be the biggest danger. Strong at the finish when winning the Criterium International, he was an honourable second to Derby fourth Battle of Marengo on his return, a race for which he will improve, and back on soft ground, he could well avenge a desperately disappointing day at Epsom for the Bolger yard.