2011 FRENCH DERBY TO BE RUN AT CHANTILLY THIS AFTERNOON

FRENCH DERBY BETTING: RODERIC  O'CONNOR TO LAND PRIX du JOCKEY CLUB?
WIN: RELIABLE MAN
2nd BUBBLE CHIC
3rd BARRAN
"Timeform look at the main contenders for the French Derby to be run at Chantilly today.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Irish 2000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, looks to have the best chance of taking the prize away from France. The son of Galileo came back to form at the Curragh when making all to beat favourite Dubawi Gold, after being well beaten at Newmarket, and heads Timeform's ratings for the Prix du Jockey Club (due off at 14:08).


"Roderic O'Connor has already tasted Group 1 glory on French soil, when winning the Criterium International as a juvenile at the end of last season. Connections did have him entered in the Epsom version, but have opted for the shorter distance of a mile and a quarter and a flatter track, in what looks an easier contest.


"Britain last won this race in 2005 with Shamardal, and Godolphin will aim to repeat that success with Casamento and Grand Vent.


"Casamento disappointed in the Guineas at Newmarket on his first run for Saeed bin Suroor, but had previously shown his class when winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy as a juvenile. He will be bidding to give Frankie Dettori his fourth win in the race.


"The Andre Fabre improver Grand Vent won a Group 2 on his penultimate start, and just failed to get up in a similar event last time over a trip further than what he will be racing over on Sunday. His jockey Maxime Guyon will be looking to follow up last year's win on Lope De Vega.



"Tin Horse enters the race as the big French hope after his win in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Didier Guillemin's colt improved markedly when quickening away from his rivals at Longchamp, but his breeding may suggest his stamina could be stretched going beyond a mile.


"Giuseppe Botti's improving Bubble Chic may have only won a minor event at two, but he has been runner-up on his last five starts, including to Recital in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and last time to Epsom Derby fancy Pour Moi. He may be good value for another place.


"Botti's cousin Stefano, will be sending over the unbeaten Crackerjack King, who produced an impressive display in the Italian Derby at Rome last month. His form may be harder to evaluate than some of the others, but the second that day romped up in a listed race last weekend.


"The Aga Khan will be represented by two-runners, Baraan and Sandagiyr.
Baraan is the choice of retained jockey Christophe Lemaire and has not been seen since early April, when he won a Longchamp Group 3 more comfortably than the margin suggests, with Prairie Star and Pour Moi (both winners since) behind.


"Two- time course winnerSandagiyr is a half-brother to Sarafina, who won last year's Prix Diane. His wins have came over a mile, but breeding suggests the step up in trip should not be a problem, and Johnny Murtagh will be on board.


"Finally the aforementioned Prairie Star, showed his toughness in a hard race last time when coming out on top in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart. If that has not taken too much out of him, then he will have a chance of a place."


Timeform Ratings for the Prix du Jockey Club (weight adjusted)
135 RODERIC O'CONNOR
132 CASAMENTO
130 TIN HORSE
128p BARAAN
125p CRACKERJACK KING
123 GRAND VENT
123 PRAIRIE STAR
http://betting.racingpost.com/horses/cards/multiple_cards.sd?crs_id=204&r_date=2011-06-05&tab=odds

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=534227&r_date=2011-06-05