By far the best race on Thursday is at Longchamp when Santorini Star contests the newly upgraded Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier due off at 19.50, over just short of 2 miles.
She faces a re-match with her conquerer on Arc day last October the Sir Mark Prescott trained Consent. Santorini Star had beaten Consent at York two outings ago so the score is 1-1.
There is no doubt Consent put Santorini Star firmly in her place last time and at face value it looks hard for her to reverse the form. There are a few mitigating circumstances that have convinced me to back Santorini Star on Thursday.
The most obvious is her fitness advantage as she has already Won this season and Consent is on her seasonal reappearance.
However looking back at the Longchamp race – Marquand set out to make it an extreme stamina test and although she battled bravely she was open to a strong staying finisher and didn’t have enough reserves to repel the improving Consent.
Before the victory in the John Porter in April, Haggas commented that Santorini Star had got ‘quicker’ since returning from her break and there lies the reason why she has every chance of reversing the form.
After the race he said he regretted not putting her in the Coronation Cup to potentially take on the great Calandagan. That is a bold statement from him and more than suggests how highly the mare is now rated.
Marquand will not have to make the running in what is a very high class Group 1 with all of the 9 strong field arriving with an RPR of between 135 (Al Riffa) and 128. The 4lb fillies and mares allowance and her new found turn of foot could give her the edge.
It’s a race to enjoy, with Arrow Eagle, Al Riffa and the Graffard entry Asmarani at the head of the market. We have been with Santorini Star as she has risen through the ranks and the set up of the race gives her a good chance of climbing another step up the ladder and provide Somerville Lodge with their first Group 1 winner of 2026. I am more than happy with the 7/1 offered 1-3 places.
Recommended Bet 0.5pts EW Santorini Star 19.50 Longchamp Thursday.
Back in the UK, the deluge of rain on Tuesday with further showers forecast for another 48 hours makes for a cautious approach this week. Although the Spring has been cold the ground has generally been good or faster since March and for a lot of horses running on going with ‘Soft’ in the description will be a step into the unknown.
I won’t be disappointed if the ground stays soft at Haydock Park for the entirety of the 3 day meeting but that is with a view to betting on Friday and Saturday. For the first day of racing on Thursday only Point Bleu from the Haggas yard has been declared from a host of entries.
The Blue Point filly was well supported on debut in a Class 2 fillies Maiden at Newmarket but was well beaten by 12l finishing 4th. The winner that day Hassaleh has gone on to get black type finishing 3rd in a listed race at Goodwood running to a mark of around 87.
If Point Bleu can run to a mark of 75 she has a chance on Thursday getting, dropping down to a Class 4 in receipt of 5lb from the previous winners Secret Life and Borjina. I wasn’t overly impressed with her debut
A lot of Blue Point’s when crossed with middle distance pedigrees on the dam side generally need at least a 1m and that’s the impression I got from her first run.
Pointe Bleu’s half sister Orionis by Sea the Stars needed 12f to be seen at her best. She is a filly that needs to show more on the track and I suspect it will be in handicap company that we back her.
No Bet Recommended.
Jason Watson has a rare ride for the yard on board the Shadwell Stud owned Kahin in the Southwell 8f maiden at 6.30. He also looked to need more time and experience following his first run and is best watched to see how he progresses with his races.
No Bet Recommended.
Finally Shane Foley travels to Chepstow to ride Windbreaker in the Maiden at 8.10 for his retainers Forz Europe Ltd. This looks a match on paper with the George Boughey runner Leonato. Windbreaker has been given many entries but will be a short price and is not of interest for betting purposes on seasonal debut.
No bet Recommended
Back on Wednesday with our next Uk bet on Friday.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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