The five-day declarations for the Grand National on Saturday will be along presently to set up a nervous three days for the connections of horses around the 40-runner cut-off point but, as far as racecourse action goes, today’s most significant race could well prove to be the Group Three Prix Djebel in France, which has highlighted winners of both the English 2,000 Guineas (Makfi) and its French equivalent (Style Vendome) within the past eight years.
This year’s race was relocated to Deauville from its familiar home at Maisons-Laffitte as long ago as mid‑February, after the Seine broke its banks and flooded the Parisian track earlier in the winter. The switch has had no effect on the standard of the field, however, as it includes the unbeaten colt Sacred Life, currently a 20-1 chance for the 2,000 Guineas on 5 May.
Sacred Life was denied a run at Group One level at the end of his juvenile season when the Critérium International at Saint-Cloud on 29 October was abandoned after a group of trainers, owners and breeders protesting about a proposed cut in payments from France Galop, their governing body, blocked the entrance to the parade ring.
Stephane Wattel’s runner would have been a live contender for that race, having won his second and third starts – including the Group Three Thomas Bryon – by a combined total of 11 lengths. His six-length win on soft ground in the Bryon suggests he will cope with heavy going this afternoon, while Cardsharp, from Mark Johnston’s stable in Yorkshire, is an interesting opponent for Sacred Life this afternoon as his form last year included a defeat of U S Navy Flag, the subsequent Middle Park and Dewhurst winner, in the July Stakes at Newmarket.
Sacred Life could well emerge as a very credible contender for the Guineas after today’s trial, which is due off at 1.50. On the domestic cards, meanwhile, Sonneofpresenting (2.50) could be worth a small interest when he makes his first start since October on the card at Ludlow.
Kempton
2.00 Lungarno Palace 2.30 Notre Ami 3.05 Roll The Dough 3.35 Station Master 4.10 Longtown 4.45 Versifier 5.20 Ramore Will 5.50 Uncle Percy
Wincanton
2.10 Athreeothree 2.40 The Last But One 3.15 Daytime Ahead 3.45 Kalarika 4.20 Adrien Du Pont 4.55 Black Narcissus 5.25 Unwin Vc
Ludlow
2.20 Shalakar 2.50 Sonneofpresenting (nb) 3.25 I’m A Game Changer 3.55 Colin’s Brother 4.30 Diva Du Maquis 5.05 Bay Sly 5.35 Oh Michelle
Wolverhampton
5.15 Black Truffle 5.45 Beshaayir 6.15 Doctor Sardonicus 6.45 Outrath 7.15 Emigrated (nap) 7.45 Western Way 8.15 The King’s Steed 8.45 Gone With The Wind
Kim Bailey’s chaser finished a decent sixth behind Cogry at Cheltenham’s first meeting of the season having won three times over the summer. Sonneofpresenting is a little weak in the market this morning but has gone well when fresh in the past, winning after breaks of 255 and 78 days, and he should be able to take up his preferred position at the head of the field.
Roll The Dough (3.05) and Black Narcissus (4.55) both have fair chances at the odds on the cards at Kempton and Wincanton respectively, while Emigrated (7.15) had no luck in running last time and can return to winning form at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting.
