Today on Sky Sports Racing: Modern Games goes for Prix du Jockey Club glory as Charlie Appleby chases Classic double
Modern Games bids for French Classic double in Group One Prix du Jockey Club, live only on Sky Sports Racing at 3pm on Sunday; William Haggas chases Group Two double with Grocer Jack in the Grand Prix De Chantilly (2.20) and Purplepay in the Prix de Sandringham (4.20)
Saturday 4 June 2022 13:35, UK
With the Derby at Epsom in the rear-view mirror, attention turns to the French equivalent at Chantilly, live only on Sky Sports Racing on Sunday.
3.00 Chantilly - Strong UK and Irish challenge by Appleby star
Modern Games will try to emulate last year's winner of the Group One Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (3.00) St Mark's Basilica and land the French Classic double.
Charlie Appleby's colt, who will come out of stall 13 of 15, made it four wins in a row at ParisLongchamp last month when taking the French 2000 Guineas in great style.
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He is well-fancied to score again but faces a star-studded list of rivals, including Aidan O'Brien pair The Acropolis and Ivy League.
The home challenge is led by Al Hakeem for four-time Prix du Jockey Club-winning trainer Jean-Claude. A three-time winner at the track, Al Hakeem produced a career-best when landing a Listed prize of the mile-and-a-quarter trip at the start of May.
El Bodegon (James Ferguson) and Imperial Fighter (Andrew Balding) complete the British team.
2.20 Chantilly - Hardwicke entry Grocer Jack continues globetrotting tour
A two-time Group Two winner in Germany before his move to William Haggas' Newmarket base, Grocer Jack heads to France for Grand Prix De Chantilly (2.20), with Tom Marquand booked to ride.
The five-year-old, who holds an entry in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, finished fifth in the Neom Turf Cup on his first start for the new yard and now steps back into Group Two company.
Last year's Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis drops down in grade after coming home fourth in the 2022 renewal of ParisLongchamp's early May feature.
4.20 Chantilly - €2 million purchase Purplepay stars for Haggas
Haggas and Marquand could complete a Group Two double with €2m purchase Purplepay a favourite to win the Prix de Sandringham (4.20).
The former Criterium International third was only sixth in Group One company on her first start for the new team when sent over to the Curragh for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' Stakes winner Fonteyn steps into Group company for the first time after getting off the mark in the Listed contest at York last month.
William Buick takes the ride on Jerome Reynier's Pennine Hills, who also won at Listed level last time out over course and distance on her first start since moving from Joseph O'Brien.
Sunday racecards I Latest Sky Bet odds
Pundit picks
Laurent Barbarin
1.45 Chantilly - Hidden Dimples
If there is a real standout on the card today at Chantilly, it may be Hidden Dimples, a daughter of Frankel trained by André Fabre. An easy winner of an 11-furlong Listed event at ParisLongchamp mid-May, she clearly sets the standard in this contest.
Third on both Fibresand starts last winter, she is unbeaten in two outings on turf and seems to improve with each run. Hidden Dimples got off the mark at Saint-Cloud at the end of April, making it easier than the half length winning margin suggests.
She scored by one-and-a-half lengths last time out in a Listed race, ahead of the well-esteemed La Parisienne who is heading to the Prix de Diane in three weeks, and in front of Know Thyself who had finished second in her previous start in a ParisLongchamp Group Three.
Hidden Dimples has not reached her full potential yet and brings some solid form into today's race. A convincing success would open many doors, and despite the drop in distance, an attempt in the Prix de Diane in three weeks could be something to consider.
2.20 Chantilly - Bubble Gift
Disappointing in the Ganay, Mare Australis will be at centre stage, as well as the unexposed Fenelon who made a winning return to action recently at Lyon.
I tipped Bubble Gift on his comeback run in the Prix d'Hédouville on May 12 at ParisLongchamp, and although I think he ran an excellent race, the son of Nathaniel will benefit a lot from this effort. He made a nice move about 400m from the finish and looked like he was coming faster than anything else on the outside but was found wanting in the last 150 yards and could not sustain his effort to the line.
Training is one thing but there is nothing like a race to prep horses ideally and I'm convinced he will come on significantly for the run. He wasn't beaten far at ParisLongchamp and can reverse the form with Mutabahi, who will be one of the key players this Sunday.
Long-term targets for Bubble Gift are the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in one month, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. If he wants to go to Saint-Cloud with a live chance, Mikel Delzangles' horse must win, and I'm sure he will not be far off at the finish.
3.00 Chantilly - Ancient Rome and Vagalame
It appears we have a nice bunch of horses in the Prix du Jockey-Club and it is realistic to think the locals could keep the trophy at home this year. Jean-Claude Rouget has four runners - from which Al Hakeem and Vadeni are the obvious dangers. But there are a few others such as Onesto, Ancient Rome and Vagalame who could also play a feature role.
Modern Games remains the one to beat after his nice success in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, where everything unfolded perfectly for the Godolphin horse, but this time things look tougher - the softer ground, the extra distance and the poor draw in stall 13. But he is a very good horse and might be able to overcome all of these.
However, the one I thought ran a real good race in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was Ancient Rome. This son of War Front ran out of luck in each of his three attempts in Group One races to date and remains a horse that deserves to score at the highest level. If the ground turns into a softer surface than good, it will enhance his chances significantly, as well as the rise in distance.
The other one that looks a very interesting outsider is Vagalame. Although it took him five starts to get off the mark, I would not underestimate his chances. He ran two creditable races at two and was rather discreet on his comeback run at Chantilly in the middle of March.
He only went down by a nose next time out to L'Astronome back at Chantilly in a head-to-head finish - the winner went on to score in his next two starts including in the Group Two Prix Hocquart and will be one of the favourites for the Grand Prix de Paris next July.
Vagalame finally made it to the winner's enclosure when breaking his maiden tag towards the end of April at Saint-Cloud, outclassing a horse called Athabascan, who won his next start, as well as the horse that finished third that day, Blues Rock.
Watch every race from Chantilly live only on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Sunday, June 5
