Classic trials at Longchamp

Races for 3yo´s dominate the card at Longchamp today, with 5 of the 8 races reserved for horses of this age group. Most important is the Group Two Prix Noailles at 15.40 over 2100 metres, where 4 of the 10 runners are still unbeaten. One of them is the Aga Khan´s Laristan (Jean-Claude Rouget/ Christophe Lemaire), who looks smart, but Rewilding (André Fabre/ Maxime Guyon) - a half-brother to top class Dar Re Mi, and Planteur (Elie Lellouche/ Antony Crastus) and Ivory Land (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Gerald Mosse), one of two sons of Lando in the field, are also worth serious consideration. The listed Prix Finlande for fillies over 1800 metres at 14.35 also has some interesting contestants, but on 2yo form should go to On Verra (Francois Doumen/ Thierry Thulliez), runner-up in the Marcel Boussac last October. The two "courses B" over 2200 metres which open the card at 13.35 and 14.05 also have some well-bred runners; the two German-breds Emblazon in the fillies race and Kayef (colts ), both Maktoum-owned, should run well.

Easily the best race for older horses is the Group Two Prix d´Harcourt over 2000 metres at 16.10. Starlish (Lellouche/ Crastus) holds La Boum (Robert Collet/ Thierry Jarnet) on their running in the Prix Exbury, but the really interesting on is Godolphin´s Cutlass Bay (Fabre/ Guyon), who is still unbeaten, but has been off the track since defeating the top-class Cavalryman in the Prix Greffulhe last May.

There are two German runners in the tierce handicap over 2400 metres at 15.08, Nelson (Andreas Löwe/ Ioritz Mendizabal) and Lasse (Pavel Vovcenko/ Delphine Santiago), but this is a really tough race and they will do well to be placed.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Emblazon - Spirit Ditty - Pearl Away
2. Race: Lawspeaker - Handsome Devil - Ice Blue
3. Race: On Verra - American Nizzy - Gold Harvest
4. Race: Doudyla - Nelson - Broncoli
5. Race: Planteur - Rewilding - Paris Vegas
6. Race: Cutlass Bay - Starlish - La Boum
7. Race: Miss Pump Pump - La Triste Condesa - Redtrio
8. Race: Buttes Chaumont - Spidello - Almaguer