THREE MAIN HOPES CHASE THE LOOT

Paris, the city of romance, home to Eiffel Tower, land of such delicacies as the croissant, escargot and frogs legs and this weekend the city that plays host to the time honoured event known as the Grade III Prix De Loot. This race has a reputation for being a gruelling test over fourteen furlongs and is open to all horses three years old. This year eight combatants will vie for the $150,000 purse so let’s look at them in a little more detail.

1 – PRINCE OF KILMORE(IRE) – thundyfred – 9/1

(GALILEO (IRE) x LONHRO (AUS) x SNURGE(IRE))

J Ventura ( 461 – 65 – 79 – 73 – 14% )

A winner of two races from ten outings who looks to be relishing the couple of starts over the longer distances he has had so far. He had his first attempt at a mile and three quarters last time out when just being run down for a nice second after leading for most of the race at allowance level. His only stakes or graded  race was a fourth over twelve furlongs at Grade III level three starts back. He did run a career best SP#100 last time out over this distance but may need time to find his feet in this class.

2 – DAL A RIDGE(IRE) – iant5 – 9/1

(DALAKHANI (IRE) x INDIAN RIDGE(IRE) x DIESIS(GB))

C Cleland ( 110 – 9 – 9 – 9 – 8% )

This colt has saluted the judge on three occasions from just nine starts so far. He had not raced over much ground before last start where he stepped out over two miles and promptly blew his opponents away leading all the way. Trainer iant5 is bullish about his chances here saying “the distance he led by last time out after fourteen furlongs was amazing, he is the real deal”.  He is another colt who is yet to be proven at stakes level and this race will be a good indicator of where he is at.

3 – SPUR’S DANCER(IRE) – hollandia3 – 5/2

(DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) x COZZENE x DYNAFORMER)

B Wu ( 646 – 178 – 126 – 93 – 28% )

This colt is the class runner of this field. Boasting a turf long rank of fourteen and the imposing career record of eight wins from just fifteen starts, he is also a multiple stakes and graded level winner. He won a stakes race over twelve furlongs last start after a failure at Grade I level the start before. He has also notched a grade III level win over eleven furlongs and two wins at Grade II and Grade III level over nine furlongs, all in his last seven starts. Breeder and trainer hollandia3 said “he looks a good show again today and fingers crossed he’ll get the job done for us.” He also has the services of top line jockey B Wu, so everything augers well for this champion of the future.

4 – WOOF WOOF(IRE) – junglelove – 6/1

(GALILEO (IRE) x EL PRADO(IRE) x UNBRIDLED’S SONG)

J Vale ( 98 – 12 – 11 – 12 – 12% )

A lightly raced colt who is a winner of two from eight and who is slowly working his way through the grades and towards longer distances. He really set tongues wagging at the Norway track last start when he ran an impressive second and produced and SP#106. Is untried at stakes or graded level so may find the class rise a bit of a challenge but has certainly earned a crack at it on the credence of that last start effort.  Trainer junglelove said “I was very pleased with his last start, we’ll give him a go at this level over fourteen today and we’ll know what he’s got to offer us at this stage, I’m certainly excited about this guy’s prospects”

5 – CRACKLE(KY) – slipaway – 9/2

(CURLIN x STORM CAT x DISTORTED HUMOR)

J Ledwith ( 575 – 122 – 121 – 95 – 21% )

A winner of four from ten with a turf long ranking of 71 who looks like he is in this race up to his ears. Made both his twelve furlong and stakes debut last time out and did not disappoint. He made it three wins in a row winning by a massive three and three quarter lengths en route to running and SP#102. He has the “master of Paris” J Ledwith on board today which is also a big plus. He has won four of his last five and seems to love it more the further he runs. Definitely a big hope.

6 – CHASING HAMBURG(AUS) – astinator3 – 7/1

(RED RANSOM x KINGMAMBO x SEATTLE SLEW)

B Thedog ( 143 – 17 – 19 – 17 – 12% )

This Australian bred colt had been out of the winners circle for three starts before his impressive return to last start at his first attempt over twelve furlongs. He ran home well last time out to win by four lengths and gives the impression he will relish the extra distance of this weeks event. He has won at Grade III level over ten and a half furlongs in the past so it is obvious he does have some class about him. Trainer astinator3 said “We put a lot of work in to find out why his form had waivered slightly but we have him ticking over again like the fine machine he is”. Despite his speed figures not being overly flattering he looks to have his chance here, look for him to be running home like a freight train.

7 – THE END BEGINS(KY) – lenny28 – 7/2

(MEDAGLIA D’ORO x ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) x DEPUTY MINISTER)

R Howard ( 110 – 12 – 10 – 22 – 11% )

An up and coming colt from the legendary lenny barns who’s form line is starting to resemble a picket fence with three wins in a row. It is hard to believe that this guy only broke his maiden four starts back over eleven furlongs. Since that time he ran a second over the same distance before winning three on end over twelve furlongs. Last time out he amazed analysts with a super SP#107. He looks like he will have no trouble getting the extra ground of this weeks race and is a horse on the up and up. Jockey R Howard said “I wouldn’t swap him for any other runner here, he is my favourite horse right now”.

8 – ALL WEEK BENDER(KY) – peeps4 – 6/1

(DYNAFORMER x A.P. INDY x DANZIG)

H Wood ( 75 – 3 – 7 – 10 – 4% )

The only filly in the field who is a winner of three from eight. She was placed in the owner restricted GR Simsters English Oaks over twelve furlongs before dropping back to allowance level for a win over the same journey. She ran over twelve furlongs again last time out at stakes level but failed to flatter. It will be interesting to see how she handles the extra ground of this race. She was certainly impressive two starts back and needs to reproduce that sort of form here. Trainer peeps4 said “we’re still finding the key to her but she is doing us proud, once we work her out I’m expecting some big results, hopefully it starts here”.

This race has a good mix of established performers combined with some precocious up and coming stayers. To me there is three main hopes but I’m expecting one of the less proven types will probably surprise us with a big run. I’ve gone the way of form and promise for first and put the two class runners in for second and third.

Selections: 7-5-3

Good Luck And Good Punting

BUTCHA