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.
Prix du Moulin betting tips – Victor Ludorum each-way value
In the feature 1m Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp this Sunday (15:25), powerful global owners Godolphin saddle three of the six-runner field. Of those, Victor Ludorum looks best suited by the trip.
One of two trained by Andre Fabre sporting the all-blue silks in this, the three-year-old son of Shamardal was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile.
He progressed in those outings and ran out a ready winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over course and distance on Arc weekend last October.
That completed his hat-trick and Victor Ludorum was a leading contender for the French 2000 Guineas off the back of his ready three-quarters of a length victory.
However, he was turned over on reappearance in a Classic trial when shaping as if needing the run. The Fabre stable didn’t seem totally right at the time, so Victor Ludorum has excuses.
He left that run behind him when ridden out to reverse form with old rival The Summit in the French 2000 Guineas. Victor Ludorum had less than ideal prep for his Classic triumph, as the race moved to Deauville just days beforehand.
Off the back of that 1 1/2 lengths victory where he only needed riding out, he was sent off favourite once more for the French Derby – the Prix du Jockey Club.
Drop back in distance a plus for Prix du Moulin
Victor Ludorum didn’t see the race out over an extended 1m 2f at Chantilly, but was still a fine two-length third. Regular jockey Mickael Barzalona arguably gave him too much to do, but he was no match for the winner Mishriff.
The placings from that were the same when the first three home all met again in a Group 2 at Deauville lasttime out.
Now dropping down in distance over a trip which he was four of five career starts, Victor Ludorum may have more to offer. The expected stamina from the dam side of his pedigree hasn’t been in evidence.
A mile simply suits him better than his owner companions too. Persian King has arguably shaped as though he wants further in his races this term, for all his record over the Prix du Moulin trip is pretty good too.
Then there is British raider Pinatubo. Charlie Appleby’s highly regarded half-brother to Victor Ludorum was champion juvenile in the UK last season.
However, Pinatubo has been held about a length on both of his previous starts over a mile this season. The bookies make him favourite on the back of his impressive return to form in the 7f Prix Jean Prat.
Pinatubo ran on under pressure, but many of his main market rivals simply didn’t fire with big outsiders chasing him home. For that reason, and at the odds on offer, Victor Ludorum rates a great each-way bet.
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Prix du Prince d’Orange betting tips – Hurricane Dream can follow-up
In the 1m 2f Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange for three-year-olds following on from the Prix du Moulin (16:00), Hurricane Dream can back up his Deauville victory over old rival Dawn Intello.
The pair are closely matched on that run on heavy ground and, while each has finished in front of the other, Hurricane Dream is 2-1 on head-to-heads.
Trained by Mikael Mescam, this son of Hurricane Cat brought an unbeaten record into the French Derby. However, he got no luck in-running whatsoever at a vital stage in that Classic contest.
Hurricane Dream had previously beaten Dawn Intello who was fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club. Trapped behind horses a furlong-and-a-half from home, he could only come ninth.
There was compensation for that last time out, though. A return to better going is no problem, as Hurricane Dream’s first win over Dawn Intello came on the forecast good to soft ground.
He should have his old rival’s number again in this contest, especially as Pierre-Charles Boudot takes the ride again. It is worth considering Hurricane Dream and Dawn Intello together for the forecast too.
Prix Gladiateur betting tips – Side with Get Shirty
In the last of the Group races on Prix du Moulin day, the 1m 7f Group 3 Prix Gladiatuer (16:35), Get Shirty can build on his Listed win last time out.
Trained by Cristophe Ferland, this four-year-old Teofilo gelding is two from three starts this season. In the first of those, Get Shirty landed a valuable Chantilly handicap by two lengths.
He then ran a career best when a close-up third in the Group 2 Vicomtese Vigier at the same venue after being gelded. Get Shirty was only a length behind the runner-up Call The Wind, one of the top stayers in training in France.
That rival has since come out and landed the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville. Call The Wind beat Ashrun, who previously chased home Get Shirty. It makes the Vicomtese Vigier look a key piece of form for the Prix Gladiateur.
On that evidence, and the fact that he has come out and won since, Get Shirty should have nothing to fear from the re-opposing Called To The Bar who has won this in each of the last two seasons.
He also has further scope for improvement than the six-year-old. Last season’s Prix du Letuce runner-up Think Of Me and the unexposed Godolphin runner Sublimis are interesting, but Get Shirty held entries in the Ebor and Lonsdale Cup at York last month.
That suggests he is held in high regard by connections. They also mean business as Christophe Soumillon is in the saddle once more. Get Shirty looks sure to go well in a fascinating renewal of the Prix Gladiateur.
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