Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois 13.8.17

very poor field

I was a bit disappointed when Barney Roy was withdrawn as he was taking a chunk of the market, but the value is still there in my view. I was surprised to see Al Wukair put in as fav earlier in the week. Fabre had said he needed the run last time and the early market seemed to agree that he would come on for it. However I had Al Wukair running right up to his previous mark. He's still only lightly raced after only four runs and could improve again but I reckon he'll need a career best if everything else runs to form. The horse who did put up a career best last time was Taareef. I made it more like a high end Gp2 performance than a typical Gp1 but that level of form could be good enough here. He handles soft, I don't know about the very soft that's being described here but French descriptions often overstate the moisture in the ground. The market has now landed on the right fav but I'd still have him shorter and I've backed him, because as long as he's in the same form as last time the rest need to improve.

Regarding the ground. It was also described as very soft yesterday but judging by the time of the final handicap on the straight mile it couldn't have been any slower than good to soft, unless they had an unusually strong tailwind.

Backed Thunder Snow.

very tricky race this and only one group 1 winner running which is disappointing

taareef is favorite for this after an easy win against al wukair last time, he continues to progress at a lower level and i suppose there is no reason why he won't step up on what he has shown so far mostly on turning tracks as his form makes him a low grade grade 1 horse but i have a nagging feeling he is a good ground horse and i think 2/1 is tight myself giving wfa and his trainer is very in and out at present

thunder snow is the only grade 1 in the line up and has progressed slowly since his american flop but progress he has, he is the money horse here and has his chance. You can't help but feel soumillon rode the other riders to sleep last time and but how much can he improve and he comes across as a ceiling horse to me, that maybe good enough but it is also worth remembering most of his best runs have been on turning tracks, he certainly has a solid chance

al wukair looked in need of the race last time but was beaten fair and square by taareef, he is likely to strip fitter here and he looks a tad of value at the price, i can't say i have ever been that fond of the horse though and will have to just watch him win

the two i like at the prices is fabres other 2 horses in opposition... trais flours is a nice progressive colt who only raced once as a juvenile, he was pace compromised last time when beaten by thunder snow and although he may get the same again here, hopefully taareef may just keep thunder snow honest up in front and he may just get the pace he needs to mow them both down late...

he like fabres other horse inns of courts need to step forward and inns of court needs to prove he can stay this far but he has been running against older horses and maybe a tad of value at 14/1. Neither horse to me needs to step forward that much to get involved and both should like the cut in the ground so i'll take my chances

Thunder shortened so have layed.

A disappointing pace but no excuse for Taareef who put up a poor effort and was very weak in the betting. Difficult to be sure if the second horse was unlucky or not because of the pace but looks weak form.

Returned 26.7 on here Harry.