UK interest in this Listed event is provided by the unbeaten Plait and MANGO TANGO. The former beat little in a novices race at Chelmsford recently though couldn’t have done it any easier though Archie Watson’s charge is preferred. The latter won a decent conditions race at Lingfield in December and wasn’t disgraced behind the current hot favourite for the Winter Derby, Wissahickon, in a tougher Listed race than this at the same track last time. He may prove good enough receiving weight from penalised Listed winner Aubevoye representing Jean-Claude Rouget’s powerful yard. Last year’s third Pump Pump Palace won over track and trip on his recent reappearance while the unbeaten Skalleti is upped in class but Palace Prince is at home in this grade.
Aubevoye (FR) (9-5) 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Pump Pump Palace (8-13) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f stks sft in Jan.
Nice To See You (FR) (9-5) 7th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Kourkan (9-1) at Saint-Cloud 1m lst stks (1) hvy in Nov.
Allez Henri (IRE) (9-2) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f hcp pol in Jan beating Furious Des Aigles (8-8) by nk, 16 ran.
Pump Pump Palace (FR) (8-13) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f stks sft in Jan beating Aubevoye (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Magari (FR) (9-4) 4th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Pump Pump Palace (8-13) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f stks sft in Jan.
Tabularasa (FR) (8-12) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f hcp sft in Jan beating Zak (8-10) by 2l, 16 ran.
Palace Prince (GER) (9-2) 7th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Pump Pump Palace (8-13) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f stks sft in Jan.
Roc Angel (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Pump Pump Palace (8-13) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 2f stks sft in Jan.
Cnicht (FR) (8-13) 7th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Star Victory (9-3) at Marseille-borely 1m 2f lst stks in Oct.
Pretorio (IRE) (8-12) won at Deauville 1m 4f hcp pol in Jan beating Goderville (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Skalleti (FR) (9-4) won at Marseille 1m 2f stks pol in Jan beating Assonance (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Plait 15-8fav (9-4) Led 2f, tracked leader, led again inside final 2f, soon clear, in no danger after, easily, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f stks (5) pol in Jan beating White Turf (9-2) by 12l, 9 ran.
Lady Sidney (FR) (8-10) 5th of 15, 5 3/4l behind Trais Fluors (8-13) at Deauville 1m 1f lst stks pol in Nov.
Alwaysandforever (IRE) (8-11) 7th of 17, 20 1/2l behind Falcao Negro (9-1) at Toulouse 1m 4f lst stks sft in Dec.
Mango Tango (FR) 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, left in lead entering final 2f, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Wissahickon (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Dec.
Dioresse (IRE) (8-12) 8th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Copper Baked (9-7) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 7f stks pol in Jan.