It has been raining in France and at this stage the going is described as "soft" and may well change to very soft if the rain forecast for Saturday arrives. This may mean some horses will be scratched on both Saturday and Sunday.
We will therefore be looking for mudlarks where possible. Festivities get underway with the Prix Chaudenay G2 for 3yos over 3000m with 7 runners. Dermot Weld's Duke de Sessa is on 5/4 in the UK with Soumillon riding. He's been consistent and being Irish trained should be familiar with the going. La Mehana is going for a 4th consecutive win having won at Deauville in most recent outing by 2 ½ length and at 3/1 may get a bit of hard earned.
The Prix de Royallieu is G1 for the f&m over 2800m with 10 runners and this is the race that has been chosen for Verry Elleegant after she was treated unkindly by the French handicapper for the Arc. However we are not entirely unhappy as we feel she would have faced a hard contest in the Arc and this is still G1 and she has a very good chance of winning it. Mark Zahra has gone over to France to ride her. Her main rival would appear to be Sea La Rosa for William Haggas and Tom Marquand and they are both quoted at 3/1. Emily Dickinson has been improving with racing and comes in on 5/1. Ten starters.
The Prix de Cadran is G1 for the stayers over 4000m. Aidan O'Brien's Kyprios has proved to be a very strong runner and comes into this on 8/11. Quickthorn, for Hughie Morrison and
Tom Marquand is on 3/1 and it is always worthwhile to look at the supplemented horses and here 13/2 Tashkan has been supplemented and represents Brian Ellison with Ben Robinson riding. 12 horses entered.
The Prix Dollar is G2 over 1800m with 12 runners. Anmaat is 5/2 for Owen Burrows and Jim Crowley and one we fancy Botanik from Andre Fabre's yard with Barzalona riding and the two on 8/1 Addeybb (Haggas-Marquand) and Wally (Rouget-Soumillon) who we like as well.
The Prix Daniel Wildenstein is G2 over 1600m and has 10 starters. The Aga Khan's Erevan is on 2/1 for Rouget-Soumillon but we have a very soft spot for Francis Graffard's The Revenant on 5/2 and Christophe Lemaire, having returned to home turf for the Arc, has the ride and they are 5/2 although the Japanese who are in Paris are likely to plough into this. Raider Triple Time for the Kevins is on 4/1.
