Prix Robert Papin Preview: Ambiance to strike for Channon

John Ingles
19 July 2013

Mick Channon's Ambiance could go well in France

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John Ingles previews the Prix Robert Papin, an important two-year-old contest won by some smart performers in the past...

A half-brother to smart sprinter Heeraat, Ambiance has confirmed himself a useful juvenile since Ascot with a win in a listed race at Sandown in which he travelled well close up before beating the Richard Hannon-trained Langavat by a length and a half.

While British-trained two-year-olds faced their first serious tests at Royal Ascot last month, French youngsters have to wait a bit longer for their first big examination. That comes in Sunday's Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte. But as well as bringing together some of the leading two-year-olds seen out so far in France, it's also nicely timed for horses coming from Royal Ascot, and this year's field again includes runners from Britain bidding to emulate 2012 winner Reckless Abandon who had won the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal meeting beforehand.

The home defence is headed by the unbeaten pair with similar names, Vedeux and Vorda. The colt Vedeux made it two out of two when making all in the Group 3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly last time, holding on by a length and a quarter from the favourite Another Party. The runner-up had been first past the post in all three of his races beforehand and shaped as though the extra half-furlong of Sunday's race will suit him a lot better (already a six-furlong winner) as he only got going in the final furlong to snatch second close home. The filly Vorda has also won both her starts, and justified favouritism in the listed Prix La Fleche at Maisons-Laffitte in June by a length and three quarters from Muharaaj who re-opposes on Sunday.

Two of the leading contenders from Britain who ran at Royal Ascot are Extortionist and Anticipated who were separated by little more than a neck in the Windsor Castle Stakes. It looked a stronger than average renewal of the Windsor Castle, and it took a much-improved effort from Extortionist to prevail in a blanket finish for first-season trainer Olly Stevens. The big field helped Extortionist settled better than previously at Ascot, but there's no guarantee he'll have the race set up quite so well again this time, particularly from his draw furthest from the rail. Anticipated started favourite for the Windsor Castle and lost his unbeaten record in finishing a close third, but he's another who could improve again and he represents Richard Hannon who sent out last year's runner-up Sir Prancealot.

The other member of the field who ran at Royal Ascot is the Mick Channon-trained Ambiance who showed plenty of pace before finishing fourth at long odds behind the smart American colt No Nay Never in the Norfolk Stakes. A half-brother to smart sprinter Heeraat, Ambiance has confirmed himself a useful juvenile since Ascot with a win in a listed race at Sandown in which he travelled well close up before beating the Richard Hannon-trained Langavat by a length and a half. In an open contest, Ambiance has the speed to make good use of his draw near the rail which is often the place to be at Maisons-Laffitte.

The other British-trained runner Lady Chantilly faces a stiff task but the third filly in the line-up, Omaticaya, is worth a second look and bids to become the third Italian-trained winner this century. She completed a hat-trick at Rome when making all for an easy win in a listed race and ran well from the front again last time when beaten half a length in the Group 3 Premio Primi Passi at Milan.

Recommendation:
Back Ambiance in the Prix Robert Papin

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings:
118 Extortionist
118 Omaticaya
117p Vedeux
117 Anticipated
116p Vorda
114 Ambiance

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