Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: Don’t wait for this postman to knock twice

In the late 19th century, a mail carrier by the name of Ferdinand Cheval was going about his business in the commune of Hauterives in south-eastern France (about 70 miles south of Lyon, not far from the Rhône River) when he tripped over a stone. This insignificant event, allied to a dream Cheval had remembered from 15 years before, was to have one lasting consequence.

Specifically, as anyone might be inclined to do in such circumstances, he decided to build a “palace” on the very spot, using only materials he collected on his daily rounds – initially on foot using his pocket for storage, then on a bicycle with a basket, and finally by resorting to a wheelbarrow. Working mainly at night, and with no training at all in the business of architecture or construction, Cheval pursued this project for the next 33 years. The result? The “Palais Ideal”, now a listed monument and a shining example of “naive architecture”. You might want to check it out online if you have the time. If you have even more time, a non-digital visit might prove an even more rewarding experience.

Lest you should think at this point that The AntePoster has lost the plot, this article is actually about a horse and its chances in an upcoming horse race. The horse in question is Facteur Cheval, named after this crackpot / visionary genius (in English literally “Postman Horse”, facteur being the French word for postman, the self-taught architect’s surname being the French word for horse). The race is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day in ten days’ time (Saturday 19 October), for which Facteur Cheval currently sits at co-fourth in the betting.

Yesterday, trainer Jerome Reynier announced that plans to train Facteur Cheval up to the Breeders Cup Classic on dirt – an ambition so crackers it rivals the project of his equine star’s namesake – had been all but abandoned. The QEII at Ascot is now the target, and some bookmakers haven’t reacted to this news as they should, leaving his price at 12/1.

What was an unappealing price before the change of heart is now very appealing. For this horse is a proper Group 1 type in a race in which top-level class is in short supply. Second in this race last year (the winner Big Rock, who “freaked” on heavy ground, has been completely out of form since and is apparently not making the trip over to defend his crown), Facteur Cheval then won the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March over nine furlongs, beating a large and deep international field. Only Charyn in the QEII lineup has a feather that bright in his cap.

Bookmaker failure to react to newsflow aside, another reason for this generous price is likely to be Facteur Cheval’s two defeats since last year’s QEII. The first of these is a “form throw-out”: In the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he raced in isolation with the aforementioned Big Rock away from the main body of horses, on ground faster than either horse cares for. He was duly beaten eight lengths into 6th (of 13). For good measure, he pulled off a shoe in running.

Last time out at Goodwood in the G1 Sussex Stakes was more like it. On ground again faster than ideal, and on a course much less favourable to this stamina-laden horse than Ascot (the Sussex Stakes winning time was more than two seconds faster than the Queen Anne), Facteur Cheval closed well to be beaten less than two lengths. The winner was Notable Speech, brilliant winner of the 2,000 Guineas who is now favourite for the Breeders Cup Mile. The second home was fast-ground miler specialist Maljoom, who is now on a downward spiral.

The return to Ascot Saturday week, where the ground will be far more favourable than the fast summer ground of the Queen Anne (Reynier expressed his unhappiness with the short covering of grass on that occasion), provides the ideal stage for the Dubai Turf winner to showcase his quality once again. The AntePoster has already recommended fellow French raider Metropolitan for this race (at 12/1, currently 10/1). But adding a second each-way string to the bow looks appropriate given the market’s failure to latch on to Facteur Cheval’s change of target and undoubted class. A single-figure price on the day would appear almost certain for this horse, who looks like an odds-on shot to be placed.

Recommendation: Back Facteur Cheval each-way @ 12/1 (Bet365, William Hill, BetVictor) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on 19 October.

Published 09/10/2024 11:53