Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud: Value lies with Group 1 winner in top form

For most British and Irish punters, the focus this weekend is firmly on The Eclipse at Sandown, a key Group 1 over 10 furlongs that pits the Classic generation against their elders for the first time.

Somewhat lost in the narrative, at least until final declarations on Friday, is the big Group 1 over 12 furlongs for four-year-olds and up run at Saint-Cloud, barely a mile to the west of Longchamp on the outskirts of Paris. The lack of anticipation and excitement about this race is partly due to the absence of an antepost market, which finally appeared courtesy of William Hill after the first of this week's forfeit stages on Wednesday. But it surely deserves greater publicity, not least because this year's running looks like a real good'un.

From a betting perspective, we like the way William Hill have priced this race, as they have essentially assumed the terrific gelding Calandagan (8/11) is as good as ever, and that his old rival Jan Brueghel (7/1) is the only other horse worth pricing in single figures. They might be right on both counts.

But there is also a decent chance they are wrong.

For the first time in his life, Calandagan comes in to this race after a performance that was absolutely abominable in the Coronation Cup (beaten 42 lengths). Perhaps the nature of the Epsom ground that day was so bad – Graffard's charge was of course not the only horse to underperform that day – that it is only fair to put a line through this run. But he still has to bounce back to his best, the key target is actually the King George in three weeks' time, and at 8/11 he makes the market for an each-way angle.

So what about the famous Flemish painter? Well, unlike the favourite in this race, Jan Brueghel performed very creditably in the Coronation Cup this year too, finishing second behind Bay City Roller. But our Jan is something of an enigma. Brilliant on his day, he often has..."other" kind of days, and he didn't run that well in the King George when reappearing after last year's Coronation Cup victory. What's more, he could only finish fourth in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot just a fortnight before this race. It's doubtful that fast ground is what he really wants, and there must be doubts over him even running after such a short turnaround.

There are four Group 1 runners behind this leading pair in the betting. Leffard (10/1) is no mug, and finishing behind Daryz last time in the Prix Aga Khan IV was no shame at all, particularly as he is better over further. He's not without a chance here. Cualificar (also 10/1) was dull as ditchwater last time and may well bounce back. He had no chance in the Arc from his draw and has plenty of high-class form on his CV. And just as interesting is the return of Convergent, another who flopped in the Coronation Cup. He beat several Group 1 winners in a Group 2 at Longchamp last year, and looked every inch a top-level performer when overcoming trouble in running and a big weight penalty to win at Group 3 level from a number of decent yardsticks on his seasonal debut. If Karl Burke confirms his participation, he's not uninteresting at 12/1.

But for all that we'd much rather back these horses each-way then take either the favourite at cramped odds or the second favourite in this races, there's one standout bet to recommend among the Group 1 winners here: Aventure, who has been completely dismissed in the betting at 10/1.

• Group 1 winner who would have trebled her number of wins at the highest level (including in the 2024 Arc de Triomphe) but for the superb Bluestocking;

• Drew very wide draw in the Arc last year, where like all runners who raced wide that day she had no chance whatsoever;

  
  

• Had no running room when she needed it on her seasonal reappearance in the Prix Ganay back in April, where she was third to Arc winner Daryz; clear second best there;

  
  

• Back on track with a facile win in the G2 Prix Corrida, with jockey Maxime Guyon looking over his shoulder twice and easing the mare right down for a narrow victory that would otherwise have been a wide-margin win;

  
  

• Ground-versatile despite her Arc second coming on soft ground; indeed, she is two for two on ground rated "good to firm' by Timeform.

In summary, this mare looks a cracking each-way bet with William Hill, who will honour three places in this antepost market even if there are less than eight runners come Sunday (currently 11). Having skipped the Pretty Polly for weather-related reasons (trainer Christophe Ferland reluctant to run her in a heatwave), Aventure is a firmly intended runner here.

Recommendation: Back Aventure each-way at 10/1 with William Hill to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the racecourse of that name on Sunday 5 July.