French Oaks Preview + 20/1 Tip!

The fillies take centre stage in France on Sunday, as Chantilly hosts the French Oaks. After an exhilarating French Derby two weeks ago that went to the home nation, the British will be looking to make amends with a host of challengers! For tips this side of the channel, look no further than our horse racing tips!

Can anyone stop Siyarafina?

That is the best question. Alain de Royer-Dupré’s filly is unbeaten in three career starts, posting her best effort yet when landing the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary at Longchamp last month. She did that very well and her profile is upwardly mobile, so further progress has to be expected. She handles softer ground and sets the standard, so she is the obvious one to beat for the home nation.

Five French Oaks for Jean-Claude Rouget?

Winning the race most recently in 2017, Jean-Claude Rouget is looking for magic number five with Etoile. His filly has tasted defeat in just one of her four starts, bouncing back from a neck second in Group 3 company to win a ten-furlong event at Saint-Cloud last month. That run proved her stamina at the distance and effectiveness on the ground, which gives her solid each-way credentials in the race.

He also runs Commes, who will be ridden by French Derby hero Cristian Demuro. She made a winning debut at Deauville last year and has finished second on all three subsequent starts. She went down by a nose in the French 1000 Guineas on her latest start and given how strongly she hit the line, further progress has to be expected for these extra two furlongs.

Gosden at the double?

John Gosden won this race in 2015 with Star of Seville and looks to have a very good each-way chance in 2019 with Entitle. Enable’s half-sister has improved markedly with each start, upped to ten furlongs on her latest outing when second to Nausha in the Musidora. Dansili’s progeny do well on a softer surface, so this ground could spark further progress and she remains completely unexposed at the ten-furlong distance.

Speaking of Nausha, she has won two of her three career starts for Roger Varian, latterly when taking the Musidora ahead of Entitle. She’s another who should continue to improve for further racing and she was a winner on debut on softer ground. James Doyle comes over for the ride and it would be no surprise were she to be involved.

Platane to make amends for Saint Alary flop

Our selection will be the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained Platane, who was a Group 3 winner on her third start when downing the second-favourite and previously mentioned Etoile at Longchamp. She was sent off a 5/1 shot for the Prix Saint Alary on her latest outing, but stumbled badly out of the gates and was ultimately never involved after racing far too keenly.

She’s capable of far better, however, and she’s a huge price compared to Etoile, which doesn’t make a huge amount of sense given the excuses she holds for her latest defeat. She can make amends on Sunday for Maxime Guyon, providing her trainer a first win in the contest!