Laurent Barbarin

Published 15.50 - 06/06

We have eight races and an excellent card of action this Sunday at ParisLongchamp, featuring two Group contests and three Listed events, live on Sky Sports Racing from 12.58pm.

The Ridgway Listed Stakes (12.58) was won by Daryz last year, and it could pay to follow closely the chances of Overnight in this year's renewal. A son of Night Of Thunder with an Arc entry, he was particularly impressive when landing his maiden at Saint-Cloud on 22 May.

My first selection of the day, however, comes in Race 2 - Melisande Listed Stakes (1.33) - a Listed contest for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a quarter. While Dispatches is likely to get strong support in the betting, it may be worth siding with the other Juddmonte representative, MAINTAIN, a daughter of Kingman trained by Henri-François Devin.

A winner on her debut at Longchamp over 9 furlongs last season, she followed up with a solid third-place finish in a Class 2 event on what proved to be her final start of the year. The filly reappeared in the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp on 5 April and finished strongly to take a promising third place, ahead of Zayida, who has since won her next two starts and is expected to be among the favourites for next Sunday's Prix de Diane.

The selection endured a difficult race in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches on ground that did not play to her strengths and should appreciate the much more suitable conditions she meets on Sunday. Drawn in stall seven and partnered with Christophe Soumillon, she looks to have found an ideal opportunity to bounce back and record a thoroughly deserved second career success.

Run over the 7f toboggan course, the feature handicap of the day - the l'Ile de la Cite Handicap (2.15) - has attracted a competitive field of sixteen runners aged four and upwards. 

While a case can be made for several contenders, GALORD could represent excellent each-way value following a couple of unlucky efforts in similar company, most notably on 24 May. Well drawn in stall one that day, he was held up towards the rear along the rail and never enjoyed a clear run, hardly coming off the bridle as he repeatedly failed to find room at a crucial stage.

The seven-year-old gelding had previously posted a highly encouraging seasonal reappearance at Chantilly on 12 May, and provided his latest run hasn't left a mark, he should prove very competitive from what remains an attractive handicap mark.

A winner of four of his twenty-nine career starts, the son of Galiway is drawn in stall 12 this time and is expected to be ridden patiently once again. With the finish coming at the second winning post, he should have ample time to build his challenge down the outside. If enjoying a smoother passage than last time, he is certainly one to keep a close eye on.

The feature race of the day is the Parix Paul de Moussac Group 2 (2.50), a contest won by Maranoa Charlie and Lazzat in 2025 and 2024, respectively, with both horses subsequently going on to score at Group 1 level.

Winner of the Group 3 Prix La Rochette over this course and distance last September ahead of Komorebi, NIGHTTIME went on to finish second to Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère a few weeks later, again over the same track and trip.

Although Komorebi reversed the form when the pair reappeared in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau over a mile on 12 April, NIGHTTIME still produced a solid runner-up performance that suggested there was plenty more to come. 

Too keen in the early stages but finishing strongly in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on 10 May, the Wertheimer representative shaped particularly well in defeat and now returns to what could prove to be his optimum distance.

The early pace is likely to be strong, which should help him settle better than he did in the French Classic. His finish effort that day was still very good but circumstances did not play in his favour.

This Group 2 contest, often used as a stepping stone towards the Prix Jean Prat, looks an ideal opportunity for Nighttime. With his stable showing signs of returning to form over the past ten days after a notably quiet start to the season, he is taken to resume winning ways.

My next column will be on Monday 8th June for Group action from Angers and Toulouse, two meetings shown live on Sky Sports Racing.