Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp

Today is a national holiday in France and the evening meeting at Longchamp has an excellent card headed by the Group One Grand Prix de Paris for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 21.20. Since the Prix du Jockey- Club´s distance was changed, this is now the best summer race over the classic distance in France and nortmally has a big barinmg on the "Arc", run over this CD on the first Sunday in October. The obvious contender here is the Aga Khan´s Beheshtam (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Soumillon), whose connections won this last year with Montmartre. Beheshtam was noted running on well from a bad draw when 4th in the Jockey- Club and is th one to beat here. Godolphin send vr Italian Drny winner Mastery (Frankie Dettopri), but his form fdos not look good enough; the Irish challenge looks more threatening with Aidan O´Brien saddling 4 runners and stable jocky Johnny Murtagh aboard Age of Aquarius.

André Fabre has an excellent record in this and his improving Cavalryman (Maxime Guyon) must not be overlooked. The main supporting feature is Group Two Prix Maurice de Neuil over 2800 metres at 19.45, in which there are runners from Italy and Spain; however Pointilliste (Elie Lellouche/ Antony Crastus) is the likeliest winner here. On the undercard, note should be taken of Tom Dascombe´s Barzan (Richard Kingscote) in the listed race for 2yo´s at 18.40; he could be the trainer´s first winner in France. The only German runner is Andreas Trybuhl´s Lady Aline (Christophe Lemaire), who runs in the 3Yo claimer over a mile at 20.50

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Dance Dance - Grey Soldier - Centeo
2. Race: I`M Off See You - Savoie - Dellaside
3. Race: American Nizzy - Colonial - Ladoga
4. Race: Jakonda - Shamakiya - Liberty Chery
5. Race: Shemima - Pointilliste - Winkle
6. Race: Beheshta - Cavalryman - Mastery
7. Race: Lady Aline - Vera`s Moscou - Vrilissos
8. Race: L`Impetieuse - Rockirk - Polidina