German runners at Chantilly

main feature in France today is the Group Three Prix Eclipse for 2yo´s at 15.05 CET at Chantilly. Only 3 of the 9 runners are trained in France and there must be the strong possibility of a British or German success. Best of the Brits could be Richard Hannon´s Bonnie Charlie (Christophe Soumillon) and Damien (Barry and Michael Hills), while the two German runners are Mario Hofer´s Smooth Operator (Andreas Helfenbein) and Pavel Vovcenko´s Giordano (Filip Minarik), with preference for the former, winner of the Kronimus-Rennen at Baden-Baden. The German runners did not do so well last week in France, but there could well be some winners today. Swing and Rock (Andreas Trybuhl/William Mongil), Vaccaria (Waldemar Hickst/ Andrreas Suborics) and Champions Time (Miroslav Rulec/ Dominique Boeuf) all run in the opening claiming race for 3yo´s over 1800 metres at 14.05, while Laokoon (Hofer/ Helfenbein) and Topkapi Diamond (Erturk Kurdu/ Antony Crastus) contest the 1200 metres race for t he same age group at 15.35. Atantic Raer (Rulec/ Nicolas Dieu) runs in the apprentices race over 1600 metres at 16.35 and in the final 1800 metres handicap at 17.35 there are two German runners, Goldanera (Kurdu/ Davy Bonilla) and Delano (Werner Baltromei/ Boeuf). In our opinion, Swing and Rock, Laokoon and Delano have the best chances.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Cottage Club - Rava - Equinoreva
2.Race: Bird Of Paradise - Noble Ginger - Muthabaie
3.Race: Smooth Operator - Bonnie Charlie - Treasure
4.Race: Dunkerque - Jane Blue - Dam d`Augy
5.Race: Roatan - Bizerte - Miss Heart
6.Race: Deacon Blue - Rockette - Haadeej
7.Race: Babouche - Grazela - Major`s Love
8.Race: Mishkina - Irish Heart - Pauillac