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.
Ferland colt may be answer to Chantilly Classic
The form of the Prix la Force won by Pao Alto looks very strong, so he is worth a wager in the extended 1m 2f Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday (14:10).
Trained by Christophe Ferland, this Intello colt has won his last three starts. The step up to a mile saw Pao Alto landed a Leopardstown maiden by three lengths.
He followed-up on that with an even more impressive victory in Listed company at Bordeaux. Pao Alto put his Classic claims on the line when up in grade and trip on reappearance.
After racing in fourth in the early stages of the Prix la Force, he only needed pushing to make progress a furlong-and-a-half from home.
The way that Pao Alto stayed on strongly inside the final furlong under Maxime Guyon suggests that the extra distance here is no problem.
He was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Ocean Atlantique with another re-opposing rival, Chachnak a further three lengths behind in third.
Both of those colts have come out and won black type races well since. That is why the form looks solid and potentially stronger in fact than the French Guineas.
Guyon is retained rider to leading owners the Wertheimer Brothers. He picks Pao Alto over Ecrivain in the Prix du Jockey Club and that looks significant.
At the odds on offer, he looks a value bet against the favourite. Pao Alto has also had more of a break than his fellow market principals, so is sure to go well.
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Victor Ludorum favourite for Prix du Jockey Club and feared
At the head of the market is French 2000 Guineas scorer Victor Ludorum. Given that Classic success and his powerful connections of global owners Godolphin and trainer Andre Fabre, he is a major danger.
This son of the late Shamardal has won four of his five starts. Victor Ludroum made rapid progress as a juvenile last season.
After easy victories in minor events at Longchamp and Chantilly, he went up into Group 1 company on Arc weekend and landed the 1m Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere by three-quarters of a length.
Fabre dropped Victor Ludorum in grade on reappearance for the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau where he was sent off odds-on. However, the stable wasn’t firing at the time and Victor Ludorum only came a sluggish third.
He came on for that return to action, however, by reversing form with the winner and re-opposing rival The Summit in the French 2000 Guineas. That was over the straight mile at Deauville.
Victor Ludorum was held up by regular jockey Mickael Barzalona and then made good headway approaching two out. He was ridden to lead entering the final furlong and kept on well.
There was no indication that Victor Ludorum wouldn’t stay further as he hit the line well enough. However, those in-behind have had chances to advertise this Classic form and failed to do so.
The fourth, fifth and six home have all been out since and not delivered. That leaves the French Guineas form in question, and it lacks the strength of the Prix la Force by comparison.
It would be no surprise if Victor Ludorum gave Fabre a fifth Prix du Jockey Club winner. He is a worthy favourite, but there is value in taking him on.
Ocean Atlantique and Mishriff have claims
Fabre also has another iron in the fire with the aforementioned and Coolmore owned Ocean Atlantique. The son of American Pharoah is prominent in the betting with bookmakers too.
After an eight-length romp on his second and final start as a juvenile over a mile at Saint-Cloud, connections pitched Ocean Atlantique into the Prix la Force.
He made progress in-between horses in the final furlong, but couldn’t reach Pao Alto before the line. Ocean Atlantique has since come out and bolted up in a Listed race at Deauville.
What he beat is questionable, and he was sent off the 1/5 favourite, but it was visually impressive. The comfortable nature of that victory suggests Ocean Atlantique is a cut above that level and worth his place in Classic company.
Pierre-Charles Boudot again takes the ride, so a bold bid is expected. The Prix du Jockey Club demands more, but Ocean Atlantique retains scope for further progress.
Globetrotting John Gosden trained colt Mishriff runs here instead of in the Epsom Derby. The son of Make Believe was an easy 10-length winner of a Nottingham maiden back in November.
Connections then went to the Middle East for the Saudi Derby where Mishriff ran well and chased home Full Flat. He then landed a Listed victory in the Newmarket Stakes when stepped up in trip to 1m 2f.
Stable companion Waldkonig was all the rage in that Classic trial, but Mishriff kept on strongly in the final furlong for a four-length success.
That makes him of interest on another international mission. Mishriff looks a very solid each-way bet here, but there are others who could also outrun bigger prices.
Ecrivain and Chachnak lively outsiders in Prix du Jockey Club
The Wertheimer Brothers’ other entrant, Ecrivain ran too badly to be true last time out. Trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, the son of past Prix du Jockey Club winner Lope De Vega got a mile as a juvenile.
He was also runner-up in the Prix de Fontaintebleau and in front of Victor Ludorum. However, Ecrivain trailed in last of nine in the French 2000 Guineas.
Something was clearly amiss that day. His jockey eased him when all chance of winning had gone, but Guyon rides Pao Alto instead.
Connections still entered Ecrivain in the Prix du Jockey Club, however, so they must retain some faith. He needs to bounce back and Classic company is a harsh environment in which to do that.
On the pick of his form though, Ecrivain may be overpriced if taking steps back in the right direction. Best odds of 20/1 look generous.
Prix la Force third Chachnak kept on well that day and has won since, so he could easily outrun the price on offer.
Trained by Frederic Vermeulen, this Kingman colt landed a Group 3 at this venue by half-a-length last month. He confirmed Prix La Force form with Another Sky here.
While Chachnak didn’t get the trip as a juvenile, he has since had time to strengthen up. In the event that some bookmakers offer extra places with a Prix du Jockey Club field of 17 set to line-up, he could run into a minor place.
If the Prix La Force is as solid as it looks, then it would be no surprise to see those involved that day having says in the finish of this Classic.
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