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France Form Sheet – 28th March
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R1 – PRIX DU PALIO DE CHANTILLY – 1900m (a1m 1/4) – ALL WEATHER – Divided Handicap – Flat – EUR € 55,000
1. CLAVUS – Consistent colt whose sole victory was achieved in his handicap appearance over
1600m at Saint-Cloud in September. Proved his efficiency on PSF and competitiveness off his
current mark by finishing 2nd on this course over 1600m in his seasonal comeback on 14 March
2. CHARTWELL – Progressive individual who made a winning handicap debut over track and trip
on 24 February, leading from start to finish. Ought to remain competitive under a 2,5kg penalty
3. PRINCE A RIO – Ultra-consistent colt with sound references/form credentials on this course,
including a last-start 2nd over 1600m on 24 January. Has regained freshness ahead of his
handicap debut
4. TREIZIEME – Unbeaten in two PSF handicaps, including on his seasonal reappearance in a
1600m event at this venue on 29 February. Ought to continue his momentum despite a 4kg
penalty for that success – leading light
5. HAGLER – Improving last-start winner who confirmed the progress of his previous outing (2nd)
at Lyon-La Soie by opening his account over 2000m on PSF at Cagnes on 1 February. Chance
again despite a 2kg penalty
6. GILDED DRAGON – Ran on well to finish 3rd on his reappearance over track and trip on 24
February in his first start on PSF and in a handicap. Warrants respect with improvement likely
7. SAFWAN – Consistent and unexposed three-year-old colt with sound references on both turf
and PSF in conditions races, including a last-start 4th in a 2000m Class 2 at Cagnes on 25
February. Makes his handicap debut
8. KASPIA TRIP – Wide-margin winner on her reappearance at Pau over 2000m in her only start
on this surface. Finished 6th over 2100m on heavy ground at Toulouse on 4 March but has scope
to improve on handicap debut
9. EVERSTAR – Finished an encouraging 3rd over 1600m on his reappearance at this venue on
29 February, proving his competitiveness at this handicap value. Could have more to offer
stretching out to this distance
10. ATRANI – Debut winner in her sole two-year-old appearance and has finished 4th in both
starts this year, including over track and trip in January and over 2100m at Toulouse on 4 March.
Makes her handicap debut here
11. GANASS – Improving last-start winner who was rewarded for consistency with a first career
success over track and trip on 7 December in his first start on this surface. Open to further
progress despite a 3,5kg penalty
12. BAD BOY – Consistent but hard to win with (1 victory from 14 starts), though was 3rd over
track and trip in his only outing at this venue. Can do better back on PSF after finishing 7th in a
2150m turf handicap at Cagnes on 25 February 13. FASHION GREY – Has improved markedly in four starts this year, winning once and finishing
2nd in the other three – over 2100m on turf at Toulouse last time (4 March). Has sound
references/form credentials on PSF – keep safe
14. TILILA – Improving 5-start maiden who has proved her competitiveness in two handicap races
this year off her current mark, including her latest (2nd) over this course and distance on 24
February. Not taken lightly
Summary: Typically competitive Quinte+ event in which it could pay to side with improving
HAGLER (5) who impressed when opening his account at Cagnes-sur-Mer last month and should
have more to offer. However, fellow last-start winners TREIZIEME (4) and CHARTWELL (2)
ought to remain competitive under a penalty so are likely to fight for victory too. CLAVUS (1)
caught the eye when finishing an encouraging 2nd here on his reappearance and, with
improvement expected, should also have a role to play on his return to this category. Runner-up
to the selection on 1 February, FASHION GRAY (13) is another with leading claims on 3kg better
terms. PRINCE A RIO (3) and GILDED DRAGON (6) complete the shortlist.
SELECTIONS
HAGLER (5) – TREIZIEME (4) – CHARTWELL (2) – CLAVUS (1)
R2 – PRIX DES FONTAINES – 1600m (a1m) – TURF – Newcomers – Flat – EUR € 27,000
1. CALADBOLG – Yoann Bonnefoy-trained Almanzor gelding to be ridden on debut by Thomas
Trullier. Best watched for now
2. SWEET DREAMS – Al Wukair gelding debuting for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall, who has
engaged Tony Piccone to ride. Beware
3. FALCON SPIRIT – Alexis Pouchin has been booked to ride this Territories colt on debut for
trainer Henri-Alex Pantal. One to keep an eye on
4. AGUA VITAE – Gianluca Bietolini-trained Olympic Glory colt debuting with Jérôme Moutard in
the irons. Could get into the picture
5. LACONEGA – Magna Grecia colt trained by Pierre Groualle with Cristian Demuro a noteworthy
jockey engagement. Not taken lightly
6. EVERGREEN – Night Of Thunder colt out of a two-time Group III winner in Ireland. Clément
Lecoeuvre rides for trainer Henri-François Devin
7. FORESEEN – Mickaël Barzalona rides this Kingman colt, who is the first foal of a Listed winner
in Ireland, for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Keep safe
8.
MONTEBELYO – Fabrice Chappet-trained The Grey Gatsby colt closely related to
Onthemoonagain who placed at Group I level in the USA. Ioritz Mendizabal rides
9. NO LUNCH – Dubawi colt, the first foal of a Group III placed mare in France, trained by Carlos
Laffon-Parias and will be ridden by Maxime Guyon
Summary: In this event for unraced three-year-old colts and geldings, it could pay to side with
NO LUNCH (9) who has Group I entries in both the Poule d’Essai and Prix du Jockey Club. This
Wertheimer representative gets the nod ahead of Juddmonte-owned colts FORESEEN (7) and
EVERGREEN (6), who are out of mares who performed well in Ireland. MONTEBELYO (8) would
have benefitted from AFASEC ‘schooling’ race so cannot be underestimated either.
SELECTIONS
NO LUNCH (9) – FORESEEN (7) – EVERGREEN (6) – MONTEBELYO (8)
R3 – PRIX DU BELVEDERE – 1400m (a7f) – ALL WEATHER – Class 1 – Flat – EUR € 35,000
1. GOLD INDEX – Won one of five outings (all on turf) last year and finished 3rd in each of the
other four starts, including a Group III contest over 1800m at Chantilly on 16 September. Not
taken lightly
2. MEGARRY – Unplaced (9th) on debut at Cork in Ireland last May and only finished 8th in his
first start on French soil in a 1300m Listed on this course in his comeback on 8 March. Open to
improvement
3. SHADIZI – Consistent colt with sound references/form credentials on turf last year and in both
PSF outings this year including a last-start 4th over 1300m at Deauville on 10 February
4. VERTBOIS – Improved with each start last year and opened his account over 1300m on PSF
at Deauville in November. Made a winning reappearance over this course and distance on 1
March and should have more to offer
5. MCTENETT – Caught the eye on debut when finishing 3rd over 1300m on PSF at Deauville
last month but disappointed last time (8 March) when only 10th in a 1300m Listed race on this
course. Watch for now
6. FLERS – Impressive debut winner over 1000m on the turf at this venue in May last year before
finishing a close-up 2nd in a Listed race over that track and trip when last seen on 4 June.
Warrants respect on her return
7. PANAREA – Debut winner over 1200m at Ascot in July but failed to confirm that promise when
only finishing 7th over 1400m on the PSF at Chelmsford in November. Has scope to improve on
her reappearance/French debut
8. JASNA’S SECRET – Undefeated in two starts on French soil over 1200m on turf at Deauville –
lost her unbeaten record in the 1200m Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (9th) at Newmarket on 30
September but wasn’t beaten far. Keep safe
9. LOUISE PROCTER – Unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old last season, winning on turf
over 1200m on debut and on PSF at Deauville six months later over 1300m on 21 December.
Unknown quantity with loads of ability
Summary: This looks a toss-up between the exciting LOUISE PROCTER (9) and progressive
VERTBOIS (4), though slight preference is for Jean-Claude Rouget’s unbeaten former who is
open to any amount of improvement on her reappearance. JASNA’S SECRET (8) and FLERS (6)
are other returnees who also revealed potential during their two-year-old campaigns last year and
remain unexposed, thus dangerous to discount. SHADIZI (3) was disappointing, although not
disgraced when finishing 4th last time so shouldn’t be hastily condemned either.
SELECTIONS
LOUISE PROCTER (9) – VERTBOIS (4) – JASNA’S SECRET (8) – FLERS (6)
R4 – PRIX DE LA FETE DES CANAUX – 1900m (a1m 1/4) – ALL WEATHER – Divided Handicap – Flat – EUR € 28,000
1. STARZO FAL – Yet to open his account but has been threatening to do so recently, especially
on this surface – confirmed as much by finishing 2nd over 1600m on this course last time (29
February). Will be a factor
2. LE PHOCEA – Made a winning start to the year on the PSF at Pau over 2000m and proved his
competitiveness off this mark over that course and distance with an encouraging 3rd on handicap
debut on 26 January. Beware
3. WIT PERD – A lightly raced colt, unplaced in four outings (all on PSF) but not far off the mark in
each of his last three. Finished 6th in a conditions race over track and trip on 23 February but
could fare better in a handicap
4. SHARQANA – Won a 1900m PSF claimer on debut but has looked less effective in 3
subsequent starts on turf (unplaced in each), including a 2150m handicap at Cagnes last time
(8th) on 25 February. Dark horse back on PSF
5. LISIMBA – Showed improvement in two starts on PSF last year with blinkers fitted – finished
4th over 1400m on this course when last seen on 21 November. Absent since but is open to
improvement (headgear removed?)
6. DAY TRADER – Placed just once in 8 starts but has remained consistent/competitive in
handicaps off his current mark on both turf and PSF. Finished 5th in an 1800m turf handicap at
Fontainebleau on 15 March
7. ENORA SENORA – Didn’t go unnoticed when 6th on debut over 2000m on the PSF at Cagnes
in January but has regressed in both subsequent outings. Finished a well-beaten 11th in a
conditions race here over 1600m on 5 March
8. LA TOUR DU BOIS – Regressed after a pleasing 1400m debut (4th) on turf in October but
didn’t go unnoticed when 7th in a 1500m PSF handicap at Deauville last month. Was 7th again
over 2000m (turf) at Compiegne on 10 March
9. MOONWALKER – A 13-start maiden and regular in the claiming category. Hard to make a
case for here on handicap debut after finishing 6th in a 2400m claimer on turf at Compiegne on
19 March
10. PRINCE SHALAA – Achieved his best performance (2nd) in a minor 1200m event at
Pompadour in August. Unplaced in all his others seven outings, including a 1400m PSF handicap
(8th) on this course on 18 March – can be ignored
Summary: DAY TRADER (6) and STARZO FAL (1) are consistent performers who wouldn’t be
winning out of turn for the first time in this category, having already proven themselves on this
track – preference, however, is for the former over this 1900m distance. WIT PERD (3), on his
handicap debut, and LA TOUR DU BOIS (8) have the means to give cheek to those principals,
with the shortlist completed by SHARQANA (4) who ought to enjoy reverting to this surface.
SELECTIONS
DAY TRADER (6) – STARZO FAL (1) – WIT PERD (3) – LA TOUR DU BOIS (8)
