Tuesday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 15:05, PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €73,200, 3yo, 10 1/2fT
Field: Alam (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Regal Resolve (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Hello Jo (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Waybreaker (Fr) (Galiway {GB}).
TDN Analysis: Kudos to the quartet on parade, but a disappointingly low turnout for a contest with luminaries such as Darshaan, Peintre Celebre, Montjeu, et al, on the roll of honour. Francis Graffard, whose prior wins came with Sumbal in 2015 and Midak last year, is double-handed this time around. Mickael Barzalona is aboard October's Listed Prix Isonomy victor Regal Resolve, who ran fifth in a hot renewal of ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau last month, while Clement Lecoeuvre partners Hisaaki Saito's G3 Prix de Conde victor and G3 Prix Noailles fourth Waybreaker. Mario Baratti trainee Hello Jo, the only one of four without a G1 Prix du Jockey Club entry, returns off a score in March's Listed Prix Maurice Caillault and Al Shaqab Racing's three-race maiden Alam completes the line-up. [Sean Cronin].
Wednesday, Chester, post time: 15:05, THE BOODLES CHESTER VASE-G3, £145,000, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT
Field: Benvenuto Cellini (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Del Maro (Ger) (Camelot {GB}), Mr Colonel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Mr Vettori (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Proposition (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Royal Standard (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Water To Wine (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).
TDN Analysis: Current Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini returns under a penalty for his success in the G2 Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown in September, a performance that marked him apart. Easily forgiven his defeat in testing ground in the Futurity Trophy, he is up to a trip that will suit perfectly and it would be no surprise if he becomes the second consecutive Chester Vase winner to go on to Derby glory after stablemate Lambourn. Of course, the usual proviso applies of him having his first start back for a stable that always leaves plenty to work on and the impressive Newbury debut winner Water To Wine will have plenty of supporters. According to John Gosden, he is more of a King Edward VII type than one for the Blue Riband but if he does something special here it could change the landscape. Godolphin's Del Maro was beaten last term by two leading Derby hopes in Maltese Cross and Pierre Bonnard and needs to step up to put himself in the Derby picture. [Tom Frary].
Wednesday, Chester, post time: 14:35, THE WEATHERBYS CHESHIRE OAKS-Listed, £120,000, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT
Field: Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), A La Prochaine (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Amelia Earhart (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), I'm The One (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Winged One (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
TDN Analysis: A small but select field for a race that has always been held in esteem by the purists but which is fast becoming the leading Oaks trial. Minnie Hauk and Enable completed the double in recent times and it could be that I'm The One is the next one if her impressive Newbury debut is anything to go by. Labelled a TDN Rising Star having dazzled in the race won in the past by Eswarah, Dancing Rain and the stable's Star Catcher, she faces her first real examination here with Ballydoyle's highly-regarded Amelia Earhart and G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes winner Sugar Island in attendance. Neither of that duo are guaranteed to relish this stamina test, while last year's Newbury debut winner A La Prochaine and Newcastle scorer Winged One come from two of the finest stables around. The latter is a relative of Order Of St George and certain to relish the trip. [Tom Frary].
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