Desmond Stoneham

DEAUVILLE SATURDAY

2.45 Prix du Palais Royal (Group 3) 3yo+ 7f (straight)

This looks a nice little present for Andre Fabre who runs a pair of Group 1 winners in the race, which has been transferred to Deauville from a waterlogged Maisons-Laffitte.

Neither Territories nor Esoterique have been out this season, but their form is so much superior to their three opponents who are all fully wound up. On pure form, the mare Esoterique is superior to her stablemate, whom she beat by a length and a half on very soft ground in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois.

The six-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer went on to lift the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes before a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and a fourth in the Longines Hong Kong Mile. Territories ran second to Gleneagles in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and then picked up the Prix Jean Prat. He ended the season with a seventh behind Solow in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and may be better on good ground.

The three-year-old Attendu should be the danger to the Fabre duo. He was a Group 3 winner last year before a third to Johannes Vermeer in the Criterium International. After a second in the Prix Djebel, the colt was ninth in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains to The Gurkha and was squeezed inside the final furlong.

Selection: ESOTERIQUE

Next best: Territories

CHANTILLY - SUNDAY

1.20 Prix du Gros-Chene-Equidia Live (Group 2) 3yo+ 5f

Evanna McCutcheon sends her veteran Maarek for this sprint where the French have several smart specialists to keep the five-furlong dash at home.

The clue could be found in the Prix de Saint-Georges at Deauville last month where Finsbury Square just held off Son Cesio (gave 6lb) by a head with the slowly-away Ride Like The Wind (gave 2lb) a length and a half away third, just inches ahead of the Rae Guest-trained, Mirza (gave 2lb). All four are on level weights this time so Son Cesio should come out best.

Maarek reached the pinnacle of his career when he landed the 2013 Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp from Catcall. The nine-year-old has won twice since and most recently a listed race at Beverley. In May, Maarek was fourth in the six-furlong Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh. Catcall has been runner-up in the race for the past three years. After a lean period of 14 months, he took a gentleman riders’ contest at this track last month.

Robert Cowell’s Iffranesia beat Finsbury Square here last and has finished second to Son Cesio, but his two runs this year have been disappointing. Back to her best, she could take a place.

Selection: SON CESIO

Next best: Ride Like the Wind

1.55 Prix de Royaumont (Group 3) 3yo fillies 1m 4f

On form, The Juliet Rose looks to have a sound chance. She was runner-up in the Group 3 Prix Penelope to Camprock who was then narrowly beaten in the Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary.

The Juliet Rose has since won the Listed Prix de la Seine at this track where Al Wathna (rec 4lb) was over a length away third. Andre Fabre fields both Armande and Jollify who are both inexperienced but very promising. After making a winning debut, the former was runner-up in a conditions race at Deauville and this longer trip should suit.

Godolphin’s Jollify stayed on to win an apprentice/young jockey maiden at Maisons-Laffitte over 11 furlongs and the daughter of Manduro must have considerable scope to be jumped up in class so far. Tres Rock Glory is on a hat-trick after a listed success at Lyon-Parilly over this distance while Pakora is well held by Al Wathna.

Selection: THE JULIET ROSE

Next best: Jollify

2.30 Prix de Sandringham (Group 2) 3yo fillies 1m

The fillies’ mile looks extremely open and several runners have been jumped up from maiden or newcomers races to this Group 2 contest. On form, everything points to Sasparella. She took the Group 3 Prix Eclipse last year and was just over two lengths behind the winner when sixth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Deauville in May. She is trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias while the other Wertheimer runner, High Quality, is under the care of Andre Fabre.

This filly won a maiden last time out and, on a line through a filly called Roshanara, should account for Volta. But this daughter of Siyouni has come on since that form as she landed the Listed Prix Volterra over the course and distance last month.

The Aga Khan’s Zayva could be anything. In her only start, she impressed and had her much fancied stablemate Albaiyda nine lengths away in fourth place. Besotted holds Rosay on their last outing at Toulouse. Alex Pantall trains both Prairie Pearl and Godolphin’s Powder Snow who was well behind Volta when they met at Chantilly after two easy wins in the Provinces. Prairie Pearl is on a hat-trick after wins in two conditions races and Aim To Please was behind Sasparella in the Pouliches.

Selection: VOLTA

Next best: Zayva

3.15 Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) 3yo colts and fillies 1m 21/2f

This classic has so far eluded Aidan O’Brien, who runs the outsiders Black Sea and Bravery (Ryan Moore) on this occasion. Highland Reel was runner-up last year and they will be hoping to go one better. Andre Fabre will be going for his fifth Jockey Club and fields two promising colts owned by Godolphin. One of the leading contenders is Robin Of Navan and he is the only previous Group 1 winner in the race.

Harry Dunlop campaigned the French-bred colt brilliantly last year when he won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Robin Of Navan did not have a perfect preparation for the Prix Greffulhe and was well beaten by the Godolphin Investec Derby hope Cloth Of Stars whom he dominated on two occasions in 2015.

One of the likely favourites will be the John Gosden-trained Foundation. He was a little squeezed over a furlong out in the Betfred Dante Stakes, could give Frankie Dettori a fourth Jockey Club victory and a first for Gosden. The most fancied French runner will be Mekhtaal (drawn 15) and he is under the care of Jean-Claude Rouget. The Pau-based trainer is having another amazing season and saddled this colt to win the Group 2 Prix Hocquart by a very comfortable six lengths.

The Aga Khan’s silks will be represented by Zarak but he has a wide outside draw which is not an advantage since the Jockey Club was shortened in 2005. This Dubawi colt was fifth to The Gurkha in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and will be much better suited to the longer trip. Third in that classic was Dicton and he has been supplemented into the race.

The same entry stage was used by Roger Charlton for Imperial Aviator. He won an important handicap easily at Newbury when last seen and is being considerably jumped up in class by his handler who took the Jockey Club in 1990 with Sanglamore.

Freddy Head relies on Raseed (by Dubawi) and he was the very easy winner of the Prix Noailles over the course and distance in April. Bravery was fourth in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas since winning his maiden and Black Sea was ninth in the Dante after a listed success.

It could be significant that Mickael Barzalona has been put on Talismanic by Fabre. He won the Listed Prix de l’Avre over 12 furlongs at Saint-Cloud. His other runner, Floodlight, should again be held by Almanzor on their running in the Prix de Guiche. This classic is open and an ability to act on very soft ground will be an asset.

Selection: ROBIN OF NAVAN

Next best: Foundation

4.00 Grand Prix de Chantilly (Group 2) 4yo+ 1m 4f

Roger Charlton saddles Ayrad in this contest. This five-year-old has been knocking on the door in group races and was a listed winner over this distance at Goodwood last year.

Last time out, Ayrad ran third in the former Aston Park Stakes at Newbury. One Foot In Heaven ran on well to win the Group 3 Prix d’Hedouville at Saint-Cloud from Harlem and Grey Lion and he should again finish ahead of his old rivals. Corine Barande-Barbe has retired Cirrus Des Aigles but gained Garlingari. He has already won the Prix Exbury and the Prix d’Harcourt this year and was recently third in the Group 1 Prix Ganay. The soft ground will be to his advantage.

Francis Graffard has always thought a lot of Sumbal but the colt has finished behind Garlingari on three occasions this year, although better off with the weights this time. Ming Dynasty is now back to his best distance but yet to find his true form. He won the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris last year and was then fourth to Highland Reel in the Longines Hong Kong Vase.

Selection: SUMBAR

Next best: Ayrad