Prix De L'abbaye 2013

12.45 Longchamp

Qatar Prix De L'abbaye De Longchamp (roup 1) (Class 1)  (2YO plus)

Winner €200,232

Advice: 1 pt win Sole Power and Reckless Abandon (9/1 general)

Hamza: Known to run his heart out at every attempt, and shown a level of form that would entitle him to be on premises when second in three group races in 2013; Plum draw in 2 augurs well, but well beaten in last two tries at this level (albeit over 6 furlongs) and others make more appeal.

Kingsgate Native: Ran in this and was second as favourite in 2007, having won Nunthorpe on previous start, and then winner of Golden Jubilee the season afterwards; Since become harder to judged but most coinsestent campaign for some time and second to Maarek latest goof effort in this context; Can go well if in the mood.

Myasun: First win in 4 landing Deavuille group three latest, getting there in last stride, but that form probably not as strong as his defeat of Maarek at Maisons-Laffite last year; That said, much different test for him today and will be much harder for him to pull back the ground late today.

Stepper Point: Had smart form as a juvenile on soft surface and last two runs, making all to land 5f Beverley event in August and then wilting late to be fourth in Newbury Group 3 behind Maarek; Could take some catching here if able to get a prime pace spot and worth respecting.

Ballesteros: Loves to get toe stuck in and was fourth in this last year but shown little since and others make much more appeal here.

Dutch Masterpiece: Rapidly progressive 3 year old who took step up tog pattern level in stride when taking Flying Five at Curragh last time out, form boosted by Russian Soul taking Group 3 since; First time blinkers could potentially bring more out of him and lost just once at this trip, so high on shortlist from low draw.

Cape of Approval: Won five of his last eight, including upset of odds on Maarek in Cork listed event; Best to forgive his Group 3 failure latest given the zip in the surface that wouldn’t have suited him at all and while he has plenty to find, not hard to think he’s still got something to give.

Maarek: One of the most progressive sprinters around last year, but blew out on two  starts this season when midfield in Golden Jubilee (ground potentially) and never able to land a blow in weaker event after that; Back right to best form when landing Newbury 5 furlong event on favoured ground however, and sure to take some beating here with 6 furlong prowess a helpful asset as ever.

Mirza: Midfield, always challenging, and shared the spoils with home team’s best chance over C&D latest here; No reason why he can’t be involved here but that form does need improving on if he’s to pose a serious challenge to others today.

Gammarth: Career bests the last twice, runner up in Deauville listed event and Baden-Baden Group 2 over 5 and 6 furlongs respectively; That form looks a way off what’s required here.

Reckless Abandon: Reckless Abandon: Top two year old sprinter last year, going unbeaten in 5 when winning Norfolk, Robert Papin, Morny, and Middle Park over 5 and 6 furlongs; Solid return behind Kingsgate Native in Temple Stakes and fifth in King’s Stand behind top quality opposition; 110 days since that run, but form amongst the best and while he’ll need to be either right out of the gate or have some luck, class could see him throw down a big challenge and hasn't had a hard season. 

Sole Power: Crack 5f sprinter, rarely away from the top sprints since landing Nunthorpe at 100/1 more than three years ago, and as good as ever when landing King’s Stand this year, with 6 furlongs at Newmarket not quite suiting; Possibly further behind than ideal when launching challenge in Nunthorpe behind Jawala, but strongest average level of form here and third and fifth in two previous renewals of this so must be considered strongly.

Spirit Quartz: Finally gained the elusive win that he had been promising for so long when landing Chantilly Group 3 but struggled serious since then and very hard to see him being involved at the finish; Plenty of soft ground form in Italy.

Justineo: Revitalised by drop down to this trip last thrice, winning newbury conditions contest, coming third in Goodwod Group 2m and then landing Doncaster listed event having gone hard from the front;

Catcall: One of the leading French hopes for this race out of a small sample of four, but only just behind Mirza and Dibajj; Short neck separated him from that pair but had been worn down in last 100 yards before target there.

Kingsgate Choice: In form of his lifetime this year, winner of two valuable handicaps in less than a month at York and Musselbrugh before close fourth to Nunthorpe winner Jawala and then a close up fourth to Dutch Masterpiece; A tough ask to be winning this saddled with the widest stall of them all however which is a massively offputting sentiment.

Dibajj: Had look of thoroughly exposed horse over 6 and 7 furlongs before half length third at Deavuille and then dead heat with Mirza in C&D trial, getting up to force a dead heat in the shadow of the post; Not sure that will suffice in much deeper race today.

Ladies Are Forever: Slightly revitalized in 2013, having won York Group 3 convincingly in July, and second there over that same C&D by just a nose latest, but not shown the sort of form that would entitle her to be given serious respect.

Jawala: Had been improving but not showing anything near as much as her Nunthope win, an extremely convincing front running performance where she was always front rank and in the end held off Sole Power and Shea Shea in style; Repeat of that form gives her rock solid chance and stall 4 is a plum draw but not sure how she handles slow ground, let alone ground this slow.

Tickled Pink: Impressive in victory when taking Group 3 events at Newmarket and Sandown in April/July, but frankly quite disappointing elsewhere and many others make more appeal with less questions.

VERDICT: Persistent rain has made the ground soft, although nowhere near as heavy as last year, it would seem. Outsiders have often prospered but there looks to be little lurking beneath the surface apart from Cape Of Approval who can outrun decent odds and take a hand. Jawala has a fine form chance but a big doubt as regards to the ground which is just enough to turn us off her chances, and it could pay to back outright class in RECKLESS ABANDON and SOLE POWER, who have shown form arguably better than anyone else in this field. Sole Power was beaten fair an square by Jwala last time but was a good fifth on a bog here last year and will handle this ground, while Reckless Abandon’s confirmed stamina for 6 furlongs could prove handy for a horse that likes to race aggressively.