French Racing Tips: Templegate’s best bets for Monday’s meeting at Longchamp in Paris

LONGCHAMP

9.55

SESTILIO JET won this race 12 months ago, just ahead of Batwan who has been off the track since then. He went on to finish a respectable eighth in a big-field Prix De L’Abbaye at the Arc meeting which is much hotter company than this. We know trip and track suit so he should run well.

Fitness could play a big part and We Go was in action on the all-weather, landing a couple of wins just before the shutdown. He goes up in class here but won a fair race at Chantilly when hitting the front a long way out and powering home. His best has come over further but he’s got solid place claims.

Gold Vibe finished just ahead of the tip in the L’Abbaye and is a danger. He hasn’t won for three years but keeps hitting the frame in hot races.

Duhail has few miles on the clock and has been running well over longer trips. He won twice at seven furlongs last term, including in solid company here in June. He was beaten in a photo dropped into a sprint after that so has pace. He’s been off since July but Andre Fabre should have him ready.

10.25

ROYAL GHOST makes his handicap debut for top trainer and jockey team Freddie Head and Maxime Guyon. He has shown bits and pieces of form in his three maiden outings with a solid fifth at Lyon last time. The canny trainer puts a visor on for the first time which could just sharpen up the three-year-old.

Black Comedy has already gone close at handicap level when third at Marseille just before the shutdown. He was backed off the boards there and Christophe Soumillon rides him for the first time today.

My Charming Prince has been unlucky with a wide draw but he won over this trip at Chantilly last season and was right on the premises there last time out in March. He can run into the frame again.

Big Blue Sky took a big step forward when a close second at Lyon in February. He was just half a length off the pace there and should progress again on just his fourth run.

Carribean Bay was good enough to win her maiden in lesser company 61 days ago so can’t be dismissed, while Diva Du Dancing looks a fair outsider dropping back to a more suitable distance here.

10.55

GANBARU showed promise as a juvenile and improved again on his three-year-old debut at Chantilly in March. He travelled really well and looked as though he may win until his run flattened a little in the final furlong. This drop back in distance looks a wise move and he will be happier back on turf after that all-weather effort.

Miss Extra makes her debut for new connections having hit the post a couple of times on the sand at Deauville last winter. This trip looks ideal and she has a top pilot in the plate.

Tarida has been consistent and put in another good run when third at Saint-Cloud before the break. That was over seven furlongs but this mile should suit and she’s a big player.

Young Man is one of the more experienced runners in the field and was on the podium a couple of times at Chantilly during the winter. He’s a proven stayer and won’t be far away.

Fiburn F improved to finish third at Toulouse in March when dropping back to a sprint trip. This mile should suit as a three-year-old and the booking of Christophe Soumillon catches the eye.

11.25

CHORBA could not have been more impressive when winning on debut on Deauville’s all-weather track in December. She led from pillar to post and had more than two lengths in hand crossing the line without being extended. She faces stiffer opposition here but can confirm that form on turf and looks a nice prospect.

Speak Of The Devil is another who kicked off her career with a comfortable success, this time when ploughing through heavy ground in October. There should be a little juice in it today and she can take another step forward over an ideal distance.

Mazagran sports the Godolphin blue and wasn’t asked too many questions when beaten just over two lengths on debut at Maisons-Laffitte first time out. He was settled off the pace and picked up nicely before the lack of experience told a little in the closing stages. Trainer Andre Fabre will have him nicely tuned up for this comeback.

Warzuzu lost her maiden tag at Deauville in August before finding Group 3 level a little beyond her at Longchamp. She was bumped a couple of times so that wasn’t her true running. She wasn’t unfancied in that lofty level and has enough ability to figure.

11.55

VICTOR LUDORUM is one of the star turns on the card and can preserve his unbeaten record. He is dropping in class after landing the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp’s Arc meeting in October. There was a real French-style dawdle in the early stages and he did well to pick up of that slow pace and run away from his rivals for a comfortable win. All three of his victories have been over this mile and some cut in the ground will be ideal. He’s a big favourite for the French 2,000 Guineas so it will be disappointing if he’s turned over today.

A few of these chased him home last time and Ecrivain looks the most likely to improve. She landed a Group 3 in good style before finishing a length away in the Lagardere.

Helter Skelter was in that bunch finish for the places when staying on strongly. He has a Listed win under his belt and is another with plenty of scope for improvement.

Devil improved as his two-year-old campaign went on last year. He won a Group 3 over six furlongs before finishing with an excellent second in a hot contest at Maisons-Laffitte. He’s another with place claims if seeing out this mile.

12.25

TROPBEAU was a red-hot two-year-old who landed a couple of Group wins at Deauville before going close in the prestigious Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in late September. Andre Fabre’s filly should really have won that race because she was badly hampered when making her challenge and came home with a full tank of petrol. Stepping up to the mile should suit and there’s more to come.

Freddie Head handled the classy Khayzaraan with kid gloves last season after she disappointed on debut at Deauville. She then clicked into another gear to land a pair of smooth maiden successes when upped to this distance. A minor setback stopped her contesting the big Autumn races but she should make a really nice three-year-old.

Dream And Do did nothing wrong last term, improving enough to sign off with Grade 3 success at Maisons-Laffitte in October. That was over seven furlongs but she has winning form at this trip and has more to offer.

Quiet Times could have a fitness edge thanks to her Chantilly Listed success on the all-weather in March. That was a cosy success as she had trouble in running. This is much tougher but she should run well.

1.05

SOTTSASS was last seen finishing third in no less a race than the Arc here in October. That was another high point in a season that included a comfortable win in the French Derby at Chantilly over this distance. In between he picked up the Prix Niel without breaking sweat.

The Derby victory was on rattling fast ground but it was on the soft side on Arc day so he should have no issue with these conditions. The one concern is that he needed his comeback last season but his class can see him home.

Shaman achieved plenty over a mile last term with a second in the French Guineas and good fifth in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He shapes as though this longer distance will suit and can fill the forecast spot.

Syrtis has his sights raised here after hitting the frame three times at Group 3 level last season. He’s lightly raced for a four-year-old and blew away the cobwebs with a good second over six furlongs at Chantilly in March. He needs more but could deliver it.

Simona landed a Group 3 in the mud just before lockdown when making all over this distance at St Cloud. It will be hard to pull off those tactics again but she could stay on into the places.

1.35

ALZIRE ended last season in style by taking a Listed contest at St Cloud. She kept it simple from the front when showing plenty of early pace before finishing off strongly. That was an impressive performance and dropping back a furlong won’t be an issue, particularly as there’s a bit of give underfoot.

Spinning Memories peaked last season with a Group 3 win at Deauville over six furlongs. That was on the back of an excellent effort in the Prix Maurice Gheest when she was just a length away at the highest level. She kicked off last term by winning this race so is a clear danger.

Wasmya won a Listed contest over this trip last term before finding a Group 1 too tough at the Arc meeting. Coming back in grade looks a wise move.

Cloud Surfing progressed well last time, winning a couple of minor contests before finishing with a solid handicap win. She stays further than this and will try to make it a stamina test.

Pure Zen hit the post in a Chantilly Group 2 over a mile last season and is interesting on debut for new connections, while Dathanna would come into the picture if the ground softens as she loves the mud.

2.05

DRAGON LOVE should be fired up for this wide-open handicap. He isn’t the most consistent but Christophe Soumillon was on board two runs ago when he went close in a big-field contest on the all-weather at Chantilly. That was over this trip and a repeat could be good enough.

Barsham is a regular performer in this grade and was a fair fourth in the mud at Compiegne last time out in March. He should be in the mix again.

Always Somewhere gets in at the bottom of the weights and was in winning form at Chantilly in February. She didn’t enjoy dropping back to seven furlongs when held at Deauville latest and could bounce back.

Loona Spigao won in the mud at Compiegne last time and should go well in the same grade.

Hackle Setter last won at Epsom back in 2018 when trained by Sylvester Kirk. He hasn’t set the world on fire since moving to France but drops to a more suitable trip today.

Dirty Dozen is a regular in the places despite looking for his first career win. He’s moved yards since his last run which could make a difference.

What Do You Say has been out of sorts on the all-weather but has a turf win to his name and likes this trip.

2.35

ANDREA DORIA has been in good form on the all-weather over the winter and can translate that to the turf. She landed a success at Maisons-Laffitte on Boxing Day before two more solid efforts earlier this year. She makes here debut for new connections today over an ideal distance and should be right in the mix.

Where Is Charlie has yet to win in 31 starts but she has hit the frame in three of her past four outings. This trip suits well and she can finish in the hunt again.

Lady Arkadina ran her best race for a good while when beaten less than two lengths at Chantilly in March. She has winning form on turf and her rider takes a valuable 7lb off, which could make all the difference in a tight race.

Mister Mario took a tumble at Chantilly last time but has been in solid form through the winter without managing to get his head in front. This is just his second run for current connections and Mickael Barzalona is an eyecatching jockey booking.

Picton is a lively outsider having just his fifth career run. He looked rusty at Deauville coming back from a year off last time and wouldn’t have to improve a massive amount to hit the frame in this weak contest.

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