Horse Racing

Horse Racing - Racing: Graeme Rodway's Grand Prix de Paris tips

bet365 News Team Updated: 09 Jun 23 12:15 Published: 13 Jul 22 15:43

It's Bastille Day in France on Thursday and the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris is the feature on a fantastic card at Longchamp. Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway takes you through his best bets.

6.33 Longchamp
Raclette @ 1/1
1pt win

7.50 Longchamp
Eldar Eldarov @ 7/2
2pts win

Raclette ready to turn up the heat

There are some exciting fillies lining up in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret, but it might develop into a match between the impressive last-time-out winners Raclette and Baiykara.

Baiykara looked good over 1m4f at Chantilly last time, but this might be more of a test of speed and preference is for Raclette, who has looked full of pace over shorter trips recently.

Four of her five runs have come at a mile or 1m1f and she put her speed from those trips to good use when quickening up smartly to land a 1m2f Listed event at this course last month.

She left the favourite Tariyana for dead that day and was going away at the finish. That strongly suggested this daughter of Frankel would be capable of stepping up to this 1m4f trip.

Only six line up here, so the race might not be run at a breakneck pace anyway and Raclette should be well-equipped if this turns into a sprint.

However the race is run, it will take a smart horse to beat her, with further improvement expected on just her sixth career outing.

Eldar Eldarov can land a knockout blow

The Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris is a cracking race and, unlike the preceding Malleret, it's expected to be run at a fast pace with Piz Badile, Simca Mille, El Bodegon and L'Astronome all having made the running on their recent starts.

That may suit the two hold-up horses, Onesto and Eldar Eldarov, and it might pay to stick with Eldar Eldarov.

Onesto was a huge eye-catcher when a staying-on fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly last month and looks sure to improve for the step up to 1m4f.

The time wasn't as good as that recorded by Eldar Eldarov in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, however, and that may prove key.

Eldar Eldarov did remarkably well to win that race as not a lot went right. He dwelt at the start and was still in the last quartet turning for home, but took off in the straight to pass nearly the entire field. He won by only a nose, but was value for further than the margin.

The front three pulled five lengths clear of fourth-placed Al Qareem, who has since run well in a Group 3 at Newmarket, and runner-up Zechariah was fourth in that same race last week.

Race and pace should suit

Provided he gets the good pace that is expected to be provided by the four front-runners, Eldar Eldarov should have no problem with the drop to 1m4f and the long straight will help.

There is no standout performer in what is Eldar Eldarov's first attempt at Group 1 level and he is definitely better than a Group 2 horse.

With further improvement expected on his fourth career outing, there is a strong chance this son of Dubawi can break through at the top level.

By Graeme Rodway