Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Grand Prix de Paris betting tips – Port Guillaume can advertise claims on Arc trials day
Arc trials day at Longchamp is this Sunday and, in the belated 1m 4f Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris for three-year-olds (14:50), Port Guillaume can build on an impressive victory last time out.
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, this Le Harve colt has won four of five career starts. All of those came earlier in the year.
Port Guillaume landed three minor events and then attracted market support for the Prix du Jockey Club. He was an eye-catching and staying on fifth over an extended 1m 2f at Chantilly.
Although no match for the winner, Mishriff, who has gone in again since, Port Guillaume relished the step up in trip last time out. He extended his lead in the final furlong of the Group 2 Prix Hocquart for a three-length victory.
The improvement for going up in distance was clear and obvious. A race like the Grand Prix de Paris demands more, but there is still plenty to come from Port Guillaume.
He is preferred to market leader Serpentine, who got a freebie on the front end in the Epsom Derby. The Irish raider, one of three trained by Aidan O’Brien in the race, won’t be allowed his own way again.
Another of the Ballydoyle battalion is Mogul, who needs a career best in this. For all his lofty reputation, he has only won one of his last five starts.
British runner English King goes here instead of in the St Leger, but also needs to step up after disappointing efforts. German Derby scorer In Swoop may have more to offer, but the preference is for Port Guillaume.
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Prix Vermeille betting tips – Even So a solid each-way bet
While Rouget also has Raabihah in another of the Arc trials, the 1m 4f Group 1 Prix Vermeille for fillies and mares (15:35), she is no value at odds-on. Irish Oaks heroine Even So is a solid each-way alternative instead.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the Irish 1000 Guineas fifth has done nothing but improve since. Even So outbattled the re-opposing Laburnum for a Listed success on her first start over 1m 2f at Naas.
When she stepped up in distance again for the Irish Oaks, the daughter of Camelot relished the 1m 4f trip of this. After being held-up, she was ridden into second a furlong from home.
Even So led 150 yards from the line and only needed pushing out in the closing stage for a two-length victory over Cayenne Pepper. The third home, Passion, has come out and won since.
That Classic victory was a third in six career starts for Even So. The Prix Vermeille demands more as she takes on her elders for the first time, but there should be even more to come.
Using the useful Cayenne Pepper as a form marker, Tarnawa is an interesting contender for owner the Aga Khan and trainer Dermot Weld.
Ed Vaughan’s July Festival winner Dame Maliot ran a close-up third in a Group 1 in Germany last time out. Frankie Dettori takes the ride which catches the eye, but Even So looks the value punt.
Prix Foy betting tips – Way To Paris can continue fine season
There is also a very trappy renewal of the 1m 4f Group 2 Prix Foy for older horses on this card (16:10). British champion stayer Stradivarius drops back in trip for the last of the Arc trials, but has no winning form at this distance.
With Irish raider Anthony Van Dyck without a win since the 2019 Epsom Derby, the rejuvenated Way To Paris gets a tentative vote.
Since chasing home last year’s Arc winner Waldgeist in this 12 months ago, the seven-year-old son of Champs Elysees has earned his own Group 1.
In four starts this season, Way To Paris hasn’t been out of the first two. After chasing home Shaman in the Prix d’Harcourt, he ran out an impressive winner of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly.
Way To Paris saw the venue for that race changed at the last minute, but still bolted up by 4 1/2 lengths. He then made last year’s Arc third Sottsass pull out all the stops and went down fighting by a head in the Prix Ganay.
For Way To Paris to then come out and enjoy elite success was a deserved reward for a string of fine efforts. That came in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
He ran on and led in the final 50 yards, touching off the re-opposing Nagano Gold by a neck. Pierre-Charles Boudot looks to be the key to Way To Paris as he again partners the horse here.
This is tougher, but he has been thriving over a mile-and-a-half this year. With his rivals struggling for success at the distance, Way To Paris could spring a shock in an absorbing Prix Foy.
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