Caroline’s & Marie-Francoise Sunday Selections for 19th July 2026

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from The Curragh & Marie-Francoise’s Chantilly Picks

Chantilly

Goffs Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) 12.58
Tokaido
Oh yes, it is a vey good contest this Prix Robert Papin, but such a shame it is just the three to make this race non? D’accord, but I think this is between Amy Murphy’s Tokaido and Joseph O’Brien’s Beibhinn, but it is the soft ground that can make the difference, as both they are having now more racing on the better surface. For Tokaido, he has the experience here of the softer ground at Chantilly, so must be having the advantage over Beibhinn, but also for both they will be at York next month, so this is a very very good chance for them in this small field. Oui, I think it must be Tokaido that will win the Prix Robert Papin.

Prix de la Pepiniere (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 1.33
Cankoura
Oolala, I will be the most surprised if Cankoura does not win this Prix de la Pepinieire, but she will be most thought to do so. D’accord, Zakharova won here at Chantilly last month, but that was over the 400 metre lesser trip, so maybe the raider from Angleterre, Alla Stella can be the one to make it a race. Cankoura I believe is very very hard to oppose to win this Listed race, so she must be the one.

Darley Prix Chloe (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.25
Maintain (nb)
I will be very very happy to see Henri-Francis Devin win this Prix Chloe with Maintain. She was very close to Andre Fabre’s Dispatches in the Prix Melisande at Longchamp last month, but I did not believe that Christophe Soumillon made her all out when he knew he could not catch Dispatches. It must be Francis-Henri Graffard’s Eklleel that can be also in the race, and the raider from Angleterre, Jennifer Jane has the big reputation non? Oui, I believe that Maintain will win this Group 3 under Christophe Soumillon.

Prix Messidor (Group 3) 4.35
Silius
Oh yes, it will be Silius that will win the Prix Messidor, and it must be my second best choice of Sunday at Chantilly. He will be very happy on this soft ground, and I believe that he can be better at this 1600 metre trip. Maybe it will be the unbeaten Erdenali that is the big danger, but this Caravaggio gelding has not been in the contest of this level yet, so Christopher Head’s Familly is for me the one to see. Maintenant, Silius is the very best this year for the Prix Messidor, and I will support him with all my heart.

The Curragh

Glenroyal Hotel And Shoda Cafe Minstrel Stakes (Group 2) 3.15
Big Gossey
Oh yes, what a race of the ages we have here in the Minstrel Stakes. I can see why Robson Aguiar’s Power Blue has been topping the betting this week, and getting the 7lbs weight for age allowance from Big Gossey definitely helps, but he’s up against a wily old operator here on The Curragh, and that, for me, is the deciding factor. Charles O’Brien’s Big Gossey does need the race to fall into his lap, but Power Blue showed in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot the last day that he would push the pace from the front, much as he did in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, and that’s where I think Big Gossey will benefit over this shorter trip. For all that, Power Blue does have the weight advantage, and is obviously talented, but 7 furlongs from the front on really quick ground? I must tell yuzz that both my heart and my brain is with Big Gossey, with Power Blue getting found out late on.

1xBet.ie Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup (Group 2) 4.25
Illinois (nap)
What a super race we have for this Curragh Cup, where Al Riffa is sure to be well supported. Joseph O’Brien’s globetrotting star stayer won this last year, so with three Group One’s in the form book does look an admirable opponent, and I did give him as my winning nap for the Irish St Leger last year on this course. There we are, I’ve built up the case for Al Riffa, but I have to admit that it’s Illinois that I do think will win the Curragh Cup this time. Despite a similar profile between Al Riffa and Illinois, it’s the extra staying power of Illinois that can make the difference here, and I’m of the opinion that Ryan Moore will be using that to push Al Riffa hard in the third quarter of this 14 furlong race. There we are, for the first time in an long time, I’ll bet against Al Riffa, and take Illinois to win the Curragh Cup.