A lot on offer in Chantilly

Chantilly, Sunday, 17 July: High-class sport is coming from Chantilly today, where the Prix Robert Papin (3rd race/14.33 h/130,000 Euro/1200 m), reserved for two-year-old horses, will be the first of a total of three Group races.

Aidan O`Brien is sending two candidates from Ireland into the race. Blackbeard (Ioritz Mendizabal) already scored in the Coventry Stakes (Group 2) and in the Railway Stakes (Group 2) and is rated higher than his training companion The Antarctic (Mickael Barzalona), who remained pale in the Norfolk Stakes (Group 2). Balbek (Olivier Peslier) and Lova (Anthony Crastus) settled the Prix du Bois (Group 3) among themselves here and are once again expected to be in the front running. Bottle of Bubbles (Simon Planque), who won in Italy, and Vicious Harry (Tony Piccone), who finished second ahead of her in the Prix la Fleche (Listed race), are also candidates for the final.

The Prix Chloe (5th race/15.50/80,000 Euro/1800m) is aimed at three-year-old mares and sees Sippinsoda (Cristian Demuro), fourth in the Prix Saint-Alary (Group 1), as the winner. Daisy Maisy (Gregory Benoist) and Tariyana (Stephane Pasquier) did not go wrong in the Prix de Diane (Group 1) and should have a say in the awarding of the premiums.

Wally (Cristian Demuro) should not be denied the Prix Messidor (6th race/16.25pm/80,000 euros/1600m) after his honours finish in the Prix d`Ispahan (Group 1), with Axdavali (Maxime Guyon) and Longvillers (Gregory Benoist) also expected to be in the front-runners with good seasonal performances.