With 18/1 winner Alabaa and a pair of 6/1 winners in Shaman and Irska in the first two days, our French Racing Tips have been hitting the bullseye. We’ve studied the form for Wednesday’s meeting at Chantilly and have picked out our best bets on the card
WINWOOD (10.00 Chantilly)
This colt disappointed on the face of it on his sole start last season when sixth of eight in a decent maiden at Deauville over 6f.
But that doesn’t tell the whole story as he missed the break by around five lengths, was green through the race but still made an eyecatching mid-race move to lead a couple of furlongs out before fading late on.
He should learn from that experience and representing the powerful team of Mikael Barzalona and Andre Fabre, he could bustle up the odds-on favourite Celestin.
BIONIC WOMAN (10.30 Chantilly)
Andre Fabre and Mickael Barzalona can record a quickfire double before we’ve had our elevenses as Bionic Woman is fancied to capitalise on this drop in class.
She was last seen on Arc weekend when finishing fourth behind Albigna in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, which is clearly the best form on offer in this race.
It’s a surprise that she is not favourite but the market prefers the chances of the unbeaten Simeen. She has looked classy in her two starts but trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has suffered some high-profile defeats in the first week of racing in France, notably when Arc third Sottsass was well beaten in the Prix Harcourt on Tuesday.
HURRICANE IVOR (12.30 Chantilly)
Looked to have a bright future when thrashing his rivals to win by eight lengths on his debut at this track last May. Was subsequently sent off a warm favourite to win a Group 3 contest at the same track a month later but finished poorly.
Makes his seasonal return after being off the track since but we like to forgive a horse one bad run and he will go close if he returns to the form of that debut run
BACK HURRICANE IVOR AT 11/4 HERE
WOODED (1.12 Chantilly, 6f Group 3)
Plenty of Group race form on show, particularly from Alocacia. She finished runner-up to French 1,000 Guineas favourite Tropbeau last season before finishing fifth at Group 2 level. But she could play second fiddle to Wooded, who finished second and third at this level in his final two runs last season.
He has pulled too hard over further in his recent runs and a fast-run pace over this sprint trip should prove more to his liking.