This year’s renewal of the Prix de l’Abbaye has a very different complexion than anticipated several weeks ago with the omission of ante-post favourite Mecca’s Angel and decent conditions underfoot. In reality, this blows the contest wide open and not many could have excuses over the ground other than the real mud-lovers. Typically a helter-skelter contest, the winner more often than not comes with a scything run to pick up the early pace-setters, and this year should be no different.
Sole Power has for once got his conditions and his win against Maarek at the Curragh last month demonstrated his continued dependability and class; Ed Lynam’s charge will be well-up for this contest. His tactics give him a great chance and he has been unlucky in the past. His Irish handler desperately wants to add this prestigious contest to his already glittering CV, but at 5/1 joint-favourite, as much as it’s difficult, we have to seek value elsewhere – although we would not begrudge him victory.
Muthmir hasn’t reached the heights that people expected of him when being touted earlier this season as taking over the reigns from the aforementioned Sole Power as the top 5f European sprinter. Since the King Stand, he has generally come up short at Grp 1 level and we can’t be overly confident about getting stuck in at a best priced 5/1. He has got his optimum trip today and William Haggas will be hoping he can finally live up to the billing.
The one we like finished third behind Muthmir at Glorious Goodwood, the seven-year-old and reigning champ, Move In Time. The sprint at Goodwood materialised up the far-side rail with Move In Time having to switch outside losing ground, before making a stern charge to finish less than a length behind. Admittedly, he was receiving 4lb from Muthmir and that does make his task more difficult off level-weights, but this race has been the target all year for David O’Meara and he may be more suited to a flatter track. He is versatile on ground and a course specialist with his form figures at Longchamp reading 2211, including winning a Grp3 here last month – the same prep race as last year. He will be fresh after a light campaign and and makes appeal at 11/1 (Betfair). The one negative is the draw (16), but at the very least, he should get to run his race without any stand-side rail interference.
It is a wide-open affair and being drawn middle to low can be advantageous. To cover this off it’s worth having a nibble at another. Goldream looks like he has been prepped for this race with a light campaign and will be suited by the drying conditions. He has got the better of Muthmir in his last two races including defeat to Mecca’s Angel on unsuitable conditions when he ran a blinder to finish fifth. On the bare form he should be shorter than 8/1 and therefore represents value when compared to Muthmir. He can finish his campaign off with another Grp 1 triumph from stall five.
1pt win Move In Time @11/1 – Longchamp 15:40
1pt win Goldream @8/1 – Longchamp 15:40