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Karaktar worth sticking with in Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly

Jockey Christophe Soumillon celebrates riding Dolniya to victory at Meydan
Image: Jockey Christophe Soumillon: Fancied to enjoy a fruitful Sunday at Chantilly

Our man Matt Brocklebank attempts to unpick Sunday's quality action at Chantilly, featuring the Prix Du Jockey Club.

12.55 Prix Du Gros-Chene - Equidia Live (Group Two)

Rangali readily got the better of Catcall (second) and Stepper Point (fourth) when storming to victory in this informative sprint 12 months ago and there's every reason to believe he can double up, despite coming into the race a fresh horse this time. Henri-Alex Pantall's star went on to prove himself in exalted company when beaten just a couple of lengths by Sole Power in the Nunthorpe last August and he signed off in 2014 with a career-best head second to Move In Time in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. As a four-year-old who progressed from Listed level last term, there's a strong suspicion the colt will improve again this year and it's hoped he'll be ready enough to do himself justice first time up. The fact he won on his seasonal debut last year offers encouragement in that regard. Catcall has race-fitness on his side after winning a Listed race at Fontainebleau in March and finishing fifth (hampered) behind Mecca's Angel when favourite at Longchamp earlier in the month. He's a very real threat but has less room for improvement than the selection as he's a couple of years the senior of the pair. The Brits have a strong hand numerically but Muthmir is by far the most exciting of the five. William Haggas' impressive Portland winner retains the potential to go right to the top in this division and there were positives to be taken from his comeback effort when beaten just a length in the Duke of York. His low draw should also ensure a decent position is achieved in the early stages here, but it's not hard to envisage this flying five (4f 213y to be precise) proving just too sharp for him. Robot Boy is another interesting contender and David Barron isn't one to tilt at windmills but he'll surely find this a lot tougher than the Newbury handicap he admittedly landed with aplomb last month. Spirit Quartz has every right to be winning this based on his very best form, including a 100/1 fourth in the aforementioned Abbaye last October and his win in this race in 2013, but he's become unreliable and was behind Catcall last time.

1.25 Prix De Royaumont - RMC (Group Three)

Just the one British filly in this contest but Toujours L'Amour is a credible contender from the William Haggas yard after seemingly surprising her connections with a taking victory in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield earlier in the month. A one-mile maiden winner at Newmarket last term, she appeared to relish the step up in distance on her seasonal bow and should continue to improve at three. What she beat at Lingfield, however, has to be called into question, with the well-backed favourite Wedding Vow only third and the fourth home, Miss Giler, not getting close to Lady Of Dubai at Goodwood subsequently. Ame Bleue is another to take seriously for last year's winning trainer Andre Fabre but she was a length behind Kataniya when fourth in a Longchamp Listed race earlier in the month and Alain De Royer-Dupre's consistent filly is probably worth sticking with. Christophe Soumillon has got to know the daughter of Raven's Pass well having ridden her in all three career starts to date and she looks a filly who just does enough and will hopefully keep progressing with experience. Maybe River is another who hasn't done a lot wrong so far and although up in class, she could be the surprise package.

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2.45 Prix Du Jockey Club (Group One)

The response when Christophe Soumillon asked Karaktar to extend clear in last month's Prix Noailles was visually impressive and, providing he gets a decent pace to aim at, he should take all the beating. Royer-Dupre's High Chaparral colt looks an altogether more rounded individual this term, having disappointed favourite-backers in two of his three starts at two, and his Longchamp form was franked to some extent when the fourth Sarrasin won a Listed event by three lengths last weekend. Andre Fabre's pre-race comments regarding New Bay have been remarkably bullish and he shouldn't be overlooked by any means as he finished strongly to take second behind stablemate Make Believe in the French Guineas. Stepping up to 10 and a half furlongs should suit this son of Dubawi down to the ground and he's possibly a bigger danger than War Dispatch, who has strung together five straight wins since missing out by half a length on his Deauville debut last August. Soumillon guided him to a cosy Group Three win at this course earlier in the month and it's hard to gauge where the ceiling of his ability lies. Silverware does have an unbeaten record to protect and his four-length mauling of Epicuris marks him down as a top prospect if taken at face value (the favourite was making his seasonal bow). Sumbal is another fascinating runner for the home team and if the ground came up very soft he'd nudge his way towards the top of the shortlist. He reportedly did a sparkling piece of work last week and lines up on the back of an effortless Group Two triumph in the Prix Greffulhe, when Epicuris was withdrawn at the start after refusing to enter the stalls. Aidan O'Brien has tasted plenty of big-race success on these shores but none of his three offer a very solid case. The pick of them may be Cape Clear Island, who has progressed with every start this term despite suffering defeat on his two most recent outings.

3.30 Prix De Sandringham (Group Two)

Not a great deal of strength in depth to this Group Two and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Fabre-trained runners dominate the market. The lightly-raced Mexican Gold makes more appeal than stable companion Via Manzoni and a repeat of her French Guineas third makes her the obvious one to beat. If there's to be a mini-surprise, Impassable could be the one to lower her colours as she has improved enormously since returning to action this season and knows what's required here having landed a conditions event over course and distance at the start of the month. 

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4.05 Grand Prix De Chantilly (Group Two)

Manatee has a bit to prove now following his disappointing comeback effort when fourth of seven in a Longchamp Group Three and Guardini is readily preferred. He lost his way a little when raised in class last summer but made a very pleasing return to action when scoring by two lengths from Girolamo in Germany and his half-length victory over subsequent Grand Prix de Paris third Teletext over this course and distance last June reads well. It's no great surprise to see Germany-based Jean-Pierre Carvalho send him back to Chantilly for this valuable and eminently winnable heat. Prince Gibraltar drops from the top table after making no serious impression behind Cirrus Des Aigles in the Prix Ganay and he's impossible to leave out of calculations having finished a creditable seventh in the Arc in October.

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