I’m very keen on BATTAASH‘s chances in Sunday’s Prix de Abbaye at its temporary home of Chantilly.
Last year’s winner Marsha – who has since won the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes this season when beating the selection – is back for another go but will encounter ground far softer than 12 months ago and that might not suit her.
Battaash, by leading sprint sire Dark Angel, is proven on slow ground like most of his family, and I think that gives him a decent chance of reversing the form – he finished fourth in the Nunthorpe.
7/2 is backable given the sprint division isn’t throwing up too many upsets this season; horses like Marsha, Lady Aurelia and Harry Angel have dominated the Group Ones.
Battaash is yet to join that company but there’s little doubting his class as he thumped Marsha at Goodwood earlier this summer and, with a slightly disappointing run in the Nunthorpe aside, he’s looked a class above his opposition this season.
I don’t see much from the French challenge and I’m not the biggest fan of their leading hope Signs Of Blessing – who has the benefit of not traveling across the channel – as his best form doesn’t compare too well with that of Marsha’s.
The one that looks a huge price is PROFITABLE, who we know loves slower ground and has won the Group One King’s Stand in the past as well as narrowly beating Marsha when second in the same race this season.
On that evidence alone the 16/1 quote is plainly wrong, and in the sprinting division it can pay to forgive proven class horses a few poor runs – he was a decent fifth in the Nunthorpe and beaten into second by Battaash prior to that at Goodwood.
2pts win Battaash @7/2, 16:35 Chantilly, Sunday
1pt win Profitable @16/1, 16:35 Chantilly, Sunday