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.
Varian’s Royal Ascot winner looks a real trip specialist
The big race in France this weekend in the 7f Group 1 Prix Jean Prat for three-year-olds on the straight course at Deauville (15:25). Royal Ascot scorer Molatham looks a trip specialist and value at the odds on offer.
Trained by Roger Varian for Hamdan Al Maktoum, who won this race back in 2008 with Tamayuz, this colt by Night Of Thunder is three from three at the distance. Molatham now steps up to elite level, but progressed as a juvenile.
His Listed victory at the Doncaster St Leger Festival over Wichita reads very well here. The runner-up has since placed in both the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
Although Molatham didn’t see out a mile on his final start of last season, he bounced back on reappearance. That came in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot where he handled softer than ideal going.
The forecast ground for the Prix Jean Prat is good which is preferable. At Royal Ascot, Molatham made smooth headway and joined the leaders approaching two out.
He then led under a ride from regular jockey Jim Crowley before the final furlong and kept on strongly when headed to regain the advantage and run out a half-length victor over Monarch Of Egypt.
As the front two pulled a further 3 1/4 lengths clear of the third, the form looks solid. At the odds on offer, Molatham looks a value alternative to the odds-on favourite here.
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The market leader, Pinatubo, is a big danger and deserves his status at the head of the Prix Jean Prat betting.
Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, who have had two winners and as many seconds in this over the last five years, he was champion juvenile last season.
Pinatubo went through the grades like a knife through butter, scoring four consecutive black type successes over 7f. If turning up in the same form as his last trip overseas, then this son of the late Shamardal sets a clear standard.
That was a nine-length demolition of leading Irish juvenile colts in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh.
After following-up on that magnificent display in the Dewhurst at Newmarket, Pinatubo completed his two-year-old campaign with six unbeaten.
However, he has not scored since in two starts this season. Pinatubo hasn’t run badly on either outing, finishing 1 1/4 lengths third to Kameko in the 2000 Guineas on reappearance.
He was a hot fancy there, however, and beaten favourite again when reversing form with Classic runner-up Wichita in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Both of those efforts were over a mile, though.
In the latter, Pinatubo was blindsided by the late run of Palace Pier and held a length. Connections feel he just wasn’t seeing the trip out, so dropping back to the Prix Jean Prat distance is an obvious plus.
However, Pinatubo is odds-on to win this and does not appeal as betting value. He is thus opposed on a prohivitive price alone.
Fabre pair each-way value for Prix Jean Prat
That means lively each-way and place betting markets, though, and Andre Fabre saddles two interesting contenders. Recent German import Alson is the first of those.
Like Molatham and Pinatubo, this Areion colt is unbeaten over 7f. Alson won a Group 3 in Germany last season before chasing home subsequent French 2000 Guineas winner Victor Ludroum over a mile.
He then dropped back in trip and destroyed the re-opposing Armory by 20 lengths. That form cannot be taken literally, but he did finish in front of the Irish raider on Arc weekend beforehand too.
Fabre opted to go straight to the French 2000 Guineas with Alson upon his change of ownership and arrival in the stable. He may have needed the run as he never quite went the pace to challenge, but was beaten 1 3/4 lengths in third.
It is interesting, then, that Alson drops down in distance. As he is versatile as regards ground, winning on going as varied as good and heavy, he is definitely one to consider each-way.
Tropbeau was favourite for the French 1000 Guineas and won won of the recognised trials, meanwile, but only came fourth in the Classic. She too drops back in trip, but gets weight all-round now taking on the colt.
This Lady Bamford owned filly is a dual venue winner over the trip, scoring Group successes on the round and straight courses last season.
That makes Tropbeau of obvious interest in the Prix Jean Prat. Her experience of the track is a massive plus, along with that handy sex allowance.
Godolphin bring British jockeys William Buick and James Doyle over to ride Appleby’s mounts here. It leaves Mickael Barzalona free to ride Tropbeau again. She is thus another worth considering each-way for the Prix Jean Prat.
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