Deauville Sunday Spectacular! Group 1 Action + 59/1 Treble!

With just two meetings in the UK & Ireland on Sunday, we turn our attentions to France for the top class action! Ascot hosted a Group 1 card yesterday and today is Deauville’s turn, with the French venue hosting a card that includes the Group 1 Prix Rothschild. With four British horses throwing their hat into the ring, it’s a fascinating race! For our British Horse Racing tips on Sunday, view on site now!

Prix Rothschild (Group 1, 2:50pm)

The first of the pattern action at Deauville comes in the form of the feature race, the Group 1 Prix Rothschild. It’s a mile contest that was won four times by the great Goldikova, with the last UK & Irish winner being Roly Poly in 2017. The raiders hold the favourite in this year’s renewal with Laurens. Karl Burke’s filly has become a fan favourite and has a very good record at Group 1 level. She returned in 2019 with a huge run when second in the Lockinge and didn’t run badly in the Queen Anne when last seen.

She sets the standard, but the forecast “very soft” ground would have to be a worry, given her only run on truly soft ground resulted in a heavy defeat at Ascot. Last year’s winner With You has previous with Laurens and perhaps more crucially, has won on deeper going. On two duels with Karl Burke’s filly, she’s never been more than a length away and she gets the first-time blinkers today. She ran flat on seasonal return, but that was against the boys and better can be expected now she’s race fit.

MOVE SWIFTLY gets the nod, however, with William Haggas’ filly arriving on the back of a Royal Ascot victory. She relished the softer ground to fly home late, picking up a field that included subsequent Group 1 winner Veracious back in fourth. That gives her latest run a huge form boost and unlike her other British compatriots, she has proven form on truly soft ground. She remains lightly raced and her overall profile is progressive, so the best is surely yet to come.

Tip: MOVE SWIFTLY (4/1 with Racebets)

Prix de Tourgeville (Listed, 4.00pm)

The sole British representative in this Listed contest is Hugo Palmer’s SET PIECE, who incidentally heads the market. This son of Dansili’s first three runs were highly progressive, winning his first two outings before a very good third in the Craven at Newmarket. He was slowly into stride in the 2000 Guineas when last seen and was never a factor, dropping markedly in grade to take up this assignment. Palmer’s horses are in flying form at present and with James Doyle over for the ride, he can resume his progressive profile.

He’ll face competition from the likes of Dan, who arrives here on the back of a pair of victories, latterly when taking a conditions race at La Teste De Buch. He spreadeagled the field that day, but that form is hard to quantify and he’s likely to need plenty more to beat the British challenger. Perhaps a bigger French threat will come from Tantpispoureux, who ran well behind Art Du Val in this grade at Saint-Cloud last month.

Tip: SET PIECE (11/4 with Racebets)

Prix de Cabourg (Group 3, 4.35pm)

The final piece of pattern action is a Group 3 contest over the six-furlong sprint distance, with Andre Fabre’s unbeaten Earthlight heading the market. He built on a narrow maiden victory when taking a conditions race over course and distance very comfortably. He has oodles of potential and it’s no surprise to see him heading off the mark for Godolphin. This is a highly competitive contest, however, with two other horses at shorter odds than 3/1.

Preference is for Karl Burke’s DUBAI STATION, who has progressed with each start and was a winner on softer ground at Haydock on his second start over five furlongs. He still looked green and unfurnished when third in the Norfolk on his latest outing, running very strongly through the line. Stepping up to six furlongs should really suit on that evidence and with softer ground a big positive, he can land his first bit of pattern success.

Tip: DUBAI STATION (11/5 with Racebets)