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Prix Djebel: Kiram to win for the Aga Khan
The main prep races for the Guineas are still to get under way in Britain, but France stages its own trials at on Thursday over Maisons-Laffitte's straight seven furlongs...
First up are the colts in the Prix Djebel, with three of the seven runners holding an entry in the 2000 Guineas. Andre Fabre's Godolphin colt Earnshaw is one of those who isn't currently engaged in the Guineas, but he's a leading contender here on form and could conceivably do enough to earn a supplementary entry. Earnshaw's only defeat in three starts at two came when runner-up to Ectot in the Criterium International on his final start but all those races were at a mile and the way he saw them out suggests that the drop in trip won't be in his favour here, particularly in a race where a lack of pace could be on the cards.
Kiram and Charm Spirit are the other two who boast the best two-year-old form and both hold entries for Newmarket. The Aga Khan's Kiram progressed well to win his last three starts at two, beating a useful field in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte on his final outing, and bids to give his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget a third win in the Djebel since 2007. Kiram has raced only at six furlongs so far, but his dam stayed well and this extra furlong looks sure to bring out further improvement in him. Charm Spirit won over this trip at Longchamp last year and ended his season with a good third over the same course and distance behind Karakontie and Noozhoh Canarias in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Incidentally, the Spanish-trained runner-up has already franked that form and booked his own place in the Guineas with an easy win at Madrid at the weekend.
The third Guineas entry - and an intriguing one at that - in the line-up is Bookrunner who might have plenty to find on form with rivals who achieved more at two, but has the most margin for progress this year. He won his only start last season, bolting up by five lengths at Chantilly against more experienced rivals and giving his apprentice rider his first winner that day. Christophe Lemaire takes the ride this time, though the Djebel will be a very different test for the American-bred Bookrunner whose debut came on polytrack over an extended nine furlongs. However, his trainer Mikel Delzangles won this in 2010 with subsequent Guineas winner Makfi who had won his only start at two beforehand, while the same stable's Hermival, who had a similar profile, finished third in the Djebel two years ago before filling the same position at Newmarket.
Of the remainder, Zygmunt and Imperiator are listed winners but the most exposed pair in the field, though the latter does at least have race fitness on his side after winning on the all-weather at Chantilly last month. Twice-raced See You Soon won a maiden by five lengths on the same card but is likely to find this a fair bit tougher.
Recommendation:
Back Kiram in the Prix Djebel
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings:
123p Kiram
121 Charm Spirit
120p Earnshaw
116 Imperiator
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