classic trials at Longchamp

today´s strong card at Longchamp features three classic trials, all at Group 3 level. The hottest favourite of the day will be Criquette Head-Maarek´s Proportional (Stephane Pasquier), an impressive winner of last October´s Prix Marcel Boussac, who looks almost unbeatable in the Prix de la Grotte for fillies over a mile at 15.50. The equivalent race for colts, the Prix de Fontainebleau at 16.20 is more open. Aidan O´Brien has made a slow start to the season, but Westphalia (Johnny Murtagh), runner-up in the Breeders Cup Juvenile) must have a good chance here, with the unbeaten Sand Tiger (Andre Fabre/ Maxime Guyon) and Oiseau de Feu (Jean-Claude Rouget/ Christophe Lemaire), who has won his last 4 races, possibly the best of the locals. O´Brien´s main interest could be Black Bear Island (Murtagh), regarded as a major Derby prospect, in the Prix la Force over 2000 metres at 16.50. Mülheim trainer Werner Baltromei has two runners on the undercard - Naxon (Frederic Spanu) in the tierce´ handicap over 1950 metres at 14.50, and Shawnee Saga (Dominique Boeuf) in the listed race over 1 1/2 miles at 15.20, in which German-owned Tempelstern (Mikael Delzangles/ Olivier Peslier) is an interesting opponent.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Saliyna - Milford Sound - Illegale
2. Race: Carimo - Naxon - Aragog
3. Race: Magadan - Fully Funded - Mondovino
4. Race: Soneva - Tamazirte - Homebound
5. Race: Oiseau De Feu - Westphalia - Silver Frost
6. Race: War Power - On Est Bien - Black Bear Island
7. Race: Smart And Fun - Benaojan - Mel Royal
8. Race: Deja Super - Peintre Modern - Malneyev