Prix Du Jockey Club (Group 1)

New Bay and Karaktar vie for favouritism in Paris today in a race where the draw could play a significant part. The ground is good giving an advantage to those drawn low or middle over those out wide.

New Bay trained by Andre Fabre came from the back off a wide draw to run second to Make Believe in the French Guineas. He’ll have to repeat that turn of foot over this two furlong longer trip to get the better of this field.

The Aga Khan’s Karaktar trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre position in the market comes courtesy of an impressive Prix Noailles performance where he had 3  1/2 L to spare over High Dynamite. Both colts will have to be dropped in having been drawn wide 13 and 12 respectively.

There’s a lot to like about Jean Claude Rouget’s War Dispatch beaten a 1/2 l by Full Mast (beneficiary of Gleneagles disqualification on Arc day last year) first time out who was a four-time winner on the all-weather before capturing the Prix De Guiche here in an impressive turf debut.

Silverwave trained by Alain Couetil won his first three at provincial tracks and remains unbeaten after putting in a bold display when taking a big step up in class in the Prix La Force beating Epicuris by 4 L at Lonchamp in April. The form wasn’t questioned in the Greffulhe when Epicuris (G1 winner at two) refused to load leaving Sumbal to saunter home a 6 L winner.

Sumbal connections are still considering Epsom as an alternative and will walk the course before deciding whether to run or not. The decision with Epicuris has already been made with the French stewards ruling out the option of him having a horse whisperer help him load his team have decided to wait for Epsom where no such restrictions will be in place.

Ballydoyle are triple handed in their attempt to win their first French Derby. The trio (drawn 7, 8, and 9) are led by Cape Clear Island with Ryan Moore in the plate. He is stepping back in trip having run second to the well-regarded Ampere (kept for the Grand Prix De Paris) in the Prix Hocquart over 11 f. Highland Reel was a disappointing favourite in the French Guineas. He had looked an exciting colt as two when a 12 L winner of a Gowran Park maiden last July on good to firm. He finished just ahead of War Envoy in the Guineas who ran well before fading in the last furlong.

With the top two in the market drawn wide traffic problems could ensue leaving Silverware drawn low in 2 to steal a march up the rail. While the Greffulhe didn’t test the strength of the form there was no denying the eye-catching performance of the winner. Cape Clear Island will benefit from the quick surface and will be doing his best work closest to the line.

Recommendation : Silverwave 11/2 win

                                         Cape Clear Island 12/1 ew