2000m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Grand Handicap de ParisLongchamp – Form Comments
| King Platin | Didn’t make much impact when competing in the South Of France early in the year, but running well back on the Paris circuit lately and only just lost out in a three-way photo to an 1800m Listed race here last month. He needs a slow surface. |
| Spirit’s Revench | Disappointed in Listed company here last time – though he didn’t have a perfect passage – and back in handicap grade. He tends to race over further, but is effective at 2000m as he showed when almost winning over it at Chantilly in 2017. |
| Zouk | More progressive than many of her rivals and comes here in good shape, having run well here two starts back and then coming with a good surge to win a conditions’ event over 2500m at Maisons-Laffitte. Best on soft ground but versatile distancewise. |
| Pump Pump Palace | Very effective at this trip but does most of his racing at lesser tracks, running to a consistent level since winning at Marseille last October. Tactically versatile. |
| Mezidon | Enjoyed a rewarding spell in the South Of France earlier in the year – winning two handicaps over this distance. However he was struggling a long way from the end in a conditions’ event on very testing ground here at ParisLongchamp last time. |
| Magari | Returned from a two month break after a couple of runs at Cagnes-sur-mer to produce a smooth surge under Soumillon to beat 17 rivals with something in hand over this course and distance on heavy ground last month. Looks a major contender. |
| Ison | Has been racing in Listed company in recent starts and generally quite a long way behind the winner each time, including at Chantilly last time. He is dropping down significantly in trip here but it’s unlikely to propel him into the winners’ enclosure. |
| Black Canyon | Has plenty of winning form at minor European tracks, the last one coming in Austria last September. Much stronger opposition at France’s main tracks and, though not disgraced, was outpaced late on at Chantilly’s polytrack surface last time. |
| Octoking | Did win a good-ground handicap over this distance at Chantilly almost a year ago. However he has largely struggled since and, though not beaten far at Fontainebleau two starts back, he really struggled on the heavy ground here last time. |
| Sweet Thomas | German-trained he looked to thrive on the heavy ground when winning a conditions’ race over this distance at Compiegne in March. Just ran out of gas in the closing stages of a 2400m handicap at Compiegne last time, still a good effort. |
| Quevillon | Sometimes races prominently but has a low winning strike-rate, his last win coming about a year ago in a 2100m handicap at Saint-Cloud. Well beaten in his last two starts and he may need to drop down the handicap before striking again. |
| Capchop | Did win a claimer at Cagnes-sur-mer earlier in the year but that was over 1300m. Has struggled in the closing stages on recent starts and moves up significantly in trip though it will be a surprise if it helps as he has a speedy pedigree. |
| Flag Fen | Beaten in ten starts since winning a 1600m handicap at Nantes last June. However he went close to a win on Chantilly’s all-weather track in March and was unlucky not to finish a bit closer here last time. Well-handicapped if he can find his best here. |
| Mister Smart | Races over a variety of distances and has won over both shorter and longer than this. Also races on a variety of surfaces but mostly seen on all-weather surfaces, only beaten a short-neck in a 2700m all-weather event at Chantilly last time. |
| Hout Bay | Tends to compete over shorter but has won over this trip. He won a couple of claiming races over 1600m last autumn but has been quite well beaten in some handicaps more recently. He’ll need to be back at the top of his game to have a chance. |
| Moonwalk Step | Comes here fresh off two really good efforts last month, first when runner-up in a Saint-Cloud handicap and then when chasing home today’s expected rival Magari in an 18-runner handicap over this course and distance. He thrives on testing ground. |
Others
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