French Derby Day at Chantilly

There is racing all over Europe today, but by far the best meeting is at Chantilly, where the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at 17.35 is the main feature of an excellent card. A maxmum field of 20 runners, and spice is added by the booking of Frankie Dettori (won this last year) for the grey filly Natagora, winner of the 1,000 Guineas and trained by Pascal Bary, who has an excellent record in this race. Whether she is good enogh to beat the colts (no filly has won this for over a century, and very few have even tried), and whether she really gets the trip of 2100 metres, remains to be seen, but we have our doubts. Chrisophe Lemaire, who normally rdes her, has been claimed to ride High Rock (Jean Claude Rouget), a spectacular winner of his last start, who is the likely favourite. Irish challenger Famous Name (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) and Andre Fabre´s Thewayyouare (Stephane Pasquier) are others with major claims. Rouget and Lemaire can also team up to win the Group Three Prix du Royaumont (3yo filles, 1 1/2 miles) with the unbeaten Folle Allure, while Mario Hofer has also targheted two of the top races - Mood Music (Dominique Boeuf), in the Group Two Prox du Gros-Chene over 5 furlongs at 16.15, and First Stream (Christophe Lemaire) in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Group Two, 12 furlongs - won last year by Saddex). Both should run well but face red-hot opposition.

Ireland today

N.H. racing today at Kilbeggan and a mixed meeting at Listowel (4 flat races, 2 over jumps, one bumper). At the former track, the course specialist Nassaro (Mike Haslford/ Paddy Flood) can take the beginnes chasse over 2 1/2 miles at 17.55 CET, while at Kilbeggan Song in my Heart (Wayne Lordan) can finally score in the 3yo maiden at 15.45 after running-up three times running for trainer David Wachman and his mother-in-law Sue Magnier. The main feature, a 2 1/2 mile chase at 18.15 has cut up disappointingly with only 4 runners. All have good recent form, but Callow Lake (Pat Fahy/ Barry Geraghty) stands out on ratings and should win easily given a clear round.

Bath and Perth

With Stratford abandoned (flooding) the only racing in Britain today is at Bath and Perth (N.H.). AtW Bath, where the going unusually is good to soft, the fields are large but the quality on offer mainly poor. Top jumps trainer Alan King is currently enjoying a purple patch with his runners on the flat and can take the fillies handicap over 1 1/2 miles at 16.40 with top-weight Adorabella (Fergus Sweeney). The best race at Perth is the 3 mile handicap chase at 16.50 which looks wide open with 18 runners. Irish trainer Gordon Elliott is always a man to be feared oin nhis British raids, and his hat-trick seeking Newton Bridge (Paul Carberry) looks the likely favourite. Anoitherhat-trick seeker Victor Daly (Heather Dalton/ Steen Craine) is one of many dangers, including Peter Bowen´s pair Snoopy Loopy (Tony McCoy) and Megaton (Tom O´Brien) as well as top weight Buena Vista (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore)