Have to admit to being on a bit of a downer after yesterday's big race. I was so confident Ocovango would at least get placed and had a real shot at pulling in a couple of bags for me. But he got boxed in at a vital stage and looked a bit of a non stayer truth be told. I was adamant on this blog that the favourite wouldn't win and I can't help feeling I've missed out on a golden opportunity. I backed two of the Ballydoyle contingent but missed the winner. Disappointing.
The French version at Chantilly today looks a good renewal and Andre Fabre saddles the favourite Intello who looked most unlucky from a bad draw in the Poulains but he's around 9/4 and in a race that has a host of hard luck stories every year since they reduced the distance that is quite a short price. His two runs this year have been on good ground including one at Newmarket which suggests he was brought over to find those underfoot conditions and today's ground is on the soft side. I would add that even though he was most unfortunate in the French Guineas it didn't look a high quality Group 1 with around nine horses beaten less than three lengths and I think it may pay to look beyond the beaten horses that day for this year's Jockey Club winner.
The great trainer also handles Sky Hunter who is unbeaten in three starts. He's a horse with a stouter pedigree than Ocovango and he may have been better suited to the Epsom trip so I'm curious as to why Fabre is running him today when he could have either come over here yesterday or waited for the Grand Prix de Paris in a few weeks. He has Intello for the race after all. Ultimately I can't resist an unbeaten colt from this stable at over 8/1. The race does have a habit of falling to unexposed, progressive types as well. Small saver on the place market to reflect the fact that it is a rough race with the aforementioned hard luck stories.
Prix du Jockey-Club:
Sky Hunter £40w @ 84/10 £20pl @ 2/1 (3rd)
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