Caroline’s & Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 12th July 2026

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Sligo & Marie-Francoise’s Picks from Deauville

Sligo

Durkin Bros. Electrical Maiden Hurdle 1.10
Manoir De Mirande
We must be giving Gordon Elliott’s Manoir De Mirande one more chance to break the maiden tag here at Sligo. I have to say he’s becoming a bit expensive to follow, but did look the winner at Roscommon the last day until a loose horse tried to take him out, so I’m going to forgive this It’s Gino gelding that unfortunate slip and back him again. To be fair, Jack Kennedy did a great job of keeping him from running out, still getting over the fence, but the chance was gone. Yes, Manoir De Mirande to come good at the ninth time of asking, probably ahead of Andrew Slattery’s Whats New.

CT Electrical Maiden Hurdle 1.40
Returning Officer
It could pay to take a chance on Gordon Elliot’s Returning Officer for the second of the Maiden Hurdles here at Sligo. He was just a bit outpaced from the 2 furlong pole the last day at Punchestown, but that was in a Flat Race, and he should be a much better proposition over hurdles for this yard. I’m thinking that this doesn’t look the strongest of races, but Boo Radley must be on your list, coming out of the Closutton stable, and these are my two. Returning Officer to put it all together now hurdling, with Boo Radley keeping him up to his work.

Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Handicap Hurdle 2.50
Bridgehead
Noel Meade’s Bridgehead couldn’t stay with Dermot McLoughlin’s Malbay Madness at Downpatrick the last day, but has another chance here to add to his one hurdles win. He should find this good ground an advantage and this looks an easier race than last time, with Andrew McNamara’s Tell Us This and John John Patrick Ryan’s Grange Walk the ones to be in the mix. Yes, I do think Bridgehead has enough to win this, but Tell Us This under Mike O’Connor is sure to run him close.

Deauville

Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix de Tancarville 1.15
Majnoun (nb)
Oui, it is to be very interesting to see Majnoun on his first run, and I think that this 1200 metre race must be between Majnoun and Aibar. It is Francis-Henri Graffard’s Majnoun this has a very good line of breeding, as a Wootton Bassett colt, and out of Malicieuse, who is a Galileo mare, but Jerome Reynier’s Aibar is a Kingman colt, and may be wanting the bigger trip in time non? But these are my two for the Prix de Tancarville, and I will be on Majnoun to win.

Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix de Lisieux (Fillies) 1.45
Amnesia
For the Prix de Lisieux, I must think that Carlos & Yann Lerners’ Amnesia can be winning. She is by Showcasing, so has very good speed in her pedigree, and it is her Sire that won the Gimcrack at York when at two, so I can see a big run from her. Maxime Guyon is riding for Jean-Claude Rouget on Saoudienne, so must be also of interest, and with maybe the ground not too soft, the Calyx filly Divina Fe has also the chance non? Oui, it will be Amnesia for me, with Saoudienne next on my list.

Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix Jean Prat (Group 1) 3.25
Rayif (nap)
Oolala, it is a very very good race this Prix Jean Prat, with the 1,000 Guineas winner True Love the filly that is the very hot favourite. D’accord, but then after that Classic at Newmarket she was beaten twice by her stablemate Precise, in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, so she has been on a busy season before this Group One non? So, I very much prefer that Francis-Henri Graffard’s Rayif can be winning this, and we ‘ave not seen him since his Poule d’Essai des Poulains success at Longchamp in May. But, Caroline has always said that Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary is the best at three over 1400 metres, and Christophe Ferland’s Nighttime must also be on my list. Maintentant, I believe that True Love has been very busy in Group One contests, but Rayif has been made ready for this so can win, with Caroline’s Thesecretadversary also in the top three.