Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly

The Group One Prix Jean Prat for 3yo´s over a mile at 14.45 this afternoon at Chantilly has attracted a very strong field of 16 runners, 6 of them from England. It also seems quite likely that the major part of the prize-money will cross the channel as the British challengers seem to hold the best cards. Likely favourite is John Gosden´s consistent Raven´s Pass (Jimmy Fortune), who certainly deserves a Group One success after several placings in top company. Winker Watson (Peter Chapple-Hyam/ Jamie Spencer) would have a great chance on 2007 form, but has had his problems and not run now for a year. Rio de la Plata (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) and German-owned Kandahar Run (Henry Cecil/ Ted Durcan) are two Derby flops who found the trip too far at Epsom and should be much better suited by today´s distance. Best of the locals should be Carlos Laffon-Parias´ Falco (Olivier Peslier), who was an easy winner of the French 2,000 Guineas but seems well held by Raven´s Pass on their Royal Ascot running. There are several German-trained runners in the supporting programme: Shawnee Saga and Masquenada (both trained by Werner Baltromei and partnered by Dominique Boeuf) run in 3yo races over 2400 and 1600 metres at 15.15 and 17.00 respectvely, while Miroslav Rulec, who scored at Deauville on Friday, saddles Shishangaan (Stephane Pasquier) in an 1100 metres race at 16.25 and Hans Blue´s Maybe (Johan Victoire) is possibly the best chance of a German winner in the 2000 metres claimer for 3yo´s at 17.35