Kasbah Bliss, winner of last year’s Group 3 Prix Gladiateur and unplaced favourite in the 2009 World Hurdle, is making his reappearance at Deauville tomorrow in a Group 2 contest over 1m4f.

François Doumen is better known over the Channel for his jumpers, but he has already sent out two winners at this month’s Deauville festival. On Verra and Green Rock completed a double ten days ago on the sand course, but tomorrow’s Lucien Barriere Grand Prix De Deauville will be run on Kasbah Bliss’ preferred going – good.

The seven year old is a 13/2 shot for next year’s World Hurdle, but his previous runs have suggested that the undulations of Cheltenham aren’t to his liking. He proved at Longchamp last year that he was also a top class horse on the flat.

He won’t be fully tuned up for tomorrow’s race, so 10/1 is probably a fair price. 

Andre Fabre saddles the 6/4 favourite, Ideal World, who is by Kingmambo. He took the spoils in a listed contest over course and distance earlier this month and should hold off the 5/2 chance Pouvoir Absolu on that form.

Christophe Soumillon has just picked up a ban, and is having a wretched week, so we probably shouldn’t back Wing Express.

Mark Johnston‘s raider, Jukebox Jury, looks of interest at the 3/1 mark. He receives a handy 5kg allowance from the others. The trainer’s last winner in France came in the shape of Laa Rayb, exactly one year ago.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes was a strangely-run affair, but Jukebox Jury ran out a decent winner at Haydock earlier this month. A repeat of that performance will surely see him involved in the finish.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing international horse racing odds:

Deauville Betting

2009 World Hurdle Betting

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting

Arc De Triomphe Betting

Guernsey welcomed Grand National winning jockey Liam Treadwell for its fifth renewal of the Bank Holiday meeting, held at L’Ancresse.

Racing at L’Ancresse used to consist of a piece of rope and a couple of flags, but the Guernsey Race Club now uses the old running rails from Ascot. The right-handed track has a run-in of only one furlong and is a golf course for every other day of the year.

Since Paul Blockley saddled a double a year ago, the camber has changed on the Rock Turn and the course now boasts a photo finish.

The high profile booking of Liam Treadwell and pleasant weather conditions ensured an attendance of almost four thousand, all of whom were treated to a brilliant day of racing.

The ambulance arrived just in time for the opening race, a six furlong handicap. The favourite, Goodbye Cash, was determined in the final furlong, and completed the first leg of a quick double for jockey John England.

Treadwell’s first of two rides came in the following race on the locally trained Garden Party, who is owned by the President of the Guernsey Race Club, Ruth Bougourd. The gelding was well backed by those who had seen him work on the beach, but finished well held in third. Wahoo Sam made the running and won comfortably for the same connections of the previous winner.

The Vice President, Jim Jamouneau, provided Treadwell with his second mount of the day, in the shape of Slickdalay. He was bought on the day of declarations, despite coming back from Chepstow with an injury.

Jamouneau oversees the Crown and Anchor stand, and it was hardly surprising to see his horse get backed into favouritism for the feature race, a handicap over two miles and one furlong.

The Grand National winning jockey was hard at work three furlongs out, but Slickdalay finished well beaten in last. Mattie Batchelor is often seen riding in the Channel Islands, and he took the valuable race on Royal Prodigy for trainer Ron Hodges.            

Trevor Gallienne was seen doing his bit to help out in the morning – clearing dog excrement off the course. As well as being one of the four on-course bookmakers, Trevor is unique in that he also owns the David Evans trained Penang Cinta.

Trevor opened up 5/2 about Penang Cinta, but was forced to cut the price after the first twenty three bets came in for his horse.

Penang Cinta then shrugged off a losing streak to record an impressive victory under David England, to cap off a 14/1 treble on the card for David Evans. Evans was represented at L’Ancresse by his son Tony, and has three of his four Guernsey raiders for sale.

Penang Cinta can take a handicap in the UK soon, and must be backed at any price to do so on his next start. The handicapper will take no notice of the Guernsey form and the win may boost his confidence.

Liam Treadwell praised the ‘lovely relaxed atmosphere’ and even though he wasn’t seen in the temporary winners’ enclosure, he insisted that he would be back again, whether riding or not.

Much to the delight of the locals, he willingly signed racecards and posed for photographs before the last race. Treadwell still has his feet firmly on the ground a month on from Aintree and is revelling in his celebrity status.

Clerk Of The Course Thady Griffith is delighted to be able to bring the racing to the people of Guernsey, who don’t benefit from the same number of meetings as Jersey.

Lord Of The Wing restored Jersey’s pride by winning the fifth and final race of the day for Joan Le Brocq. The 3/1 shot rallied well under pressure to beat Roger Curtis’ Mucho Loco by two lengths.

Are you looking for the betting on the 2010 Lincoln Handicap? Click here!

22 runners go to post in Saturday’s 1m William Hill Lincoln Handicap, the curtain-raiser to the flat season.

Being a handicap with 16 runners or more, the bookies are paying 4 places at 1/4 the win odds. All the antepost betting has revolved around 4/1 Expresso Star, who has won his last 3 starts.

John Gosden will inspect the ground, and will make a late decision whether or not to chance the favourite on the quick surface. The going should be good to firm, and there shouldn’t any significant rain before the race.

The gamble on Expresso Star was ignited by a Newmarket gallop, forcing the bookies to run for cover from 10/1.

With doubts even over the favourite’s participation, there must surely be some each way value out there.

In the last 9 runnings of the race, only Babodana (2004) has carried more than 9 stone to victory. To make our job easier then, let’s discount 33/1 Lady Deauville, 25/1 Blythe Knight, 8/1 Swop, 33/1 Eva’s Request, 16/1 Don’t Panic, 25/1 Docofthebay and 20/1 Mia’s Boy.

In the last 10 years, only Zucchero and Blythe Knight were the only 6 year old winners. Discount 50/1 Royal Power, 40/1 European Dream, 12/1 Flipando, 33/1 Ace Of Hearts, 50/1 Bolodenka and 16/1 Benandonner.

Of course, if you take the statistical approach, you wouldn’t have found last year’s Cesarewitch winner, 50/1 Caracciola. However, it does make our job easier!

The following are left:

25/1 Whistledownwind wears a visor for Jeremy Noseda, but will want it softer.

11/1 Huzzah has been well supported in the bettting but may want cut in the ground. Drawn in 17, he should get towed along with the pace.

40/1 Dream Lodge was 21st out of 21 in the Spring Mile last year and is overlooked.

50/1 Philario has form behind Premio Loco at Kempton which reads well. Apprentice jockey Martin Lane is good value for his 5lb claim meaning Philario has a place chance.

50/1 Cobo Bay is a front-runner who won first time out last year.

9/1 Charm School is from the same yard as the favourite, but could well beat him from a higher draw. He finished 3rd in a 7f handicap at Doncaster in November, despite not getting a clear run.

14/1 Zaahid has been nibbled at in the betting and will be ridden by Robert Winston. He is drawn in 2, but the pace may be with the higher numbers.

20/1 Titan Triumph has 5 wins from his last 6 starts, but they have all been run on the all-weather.

Conclusion:

A tricky contest to start the flat season, but it may be worth taking a chance with Philario, who is 50/1 with Stan James.

1pt each way @ 50/1 Philario (Stan James, 1-2-3-4, 1/4 odds)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing Doncaster odds:

Spring Mile Betting

Cammidge Trophy Betting

William Hill Lincoln Handicap Betting

The race is one for Champion Chase contenders, over 2m at Kempton Park. It will be televised on Channel 4 and the off time is 3:15pm.

I was on Twist Magic in this year’s Tingle Creek at 14/1. Twist was running a massive race and was more on the bridle than Master Minded just before he fell. Maybe I’m gutted about the last run, but the fall may have taken something out of him. Nevertheless, I’d much rather be on Twist and AP McCoy than the other Nicholls runner, 7/2 Takeroc.

This is definitely a race to watch, because even 16/1 Ashley Brook has a massive chance if back to his best. Today I’m advising a decent sized bet on Petit Robin in the antepost market for the Champion Chase. Master Minded may be short at 4/6, even though he looks the likely winner at this stage. That can all change, as these star horses are just as prone to injuries and setbacks.

William Hill are best priced at 16/1 for Petit Robin in the Champion Chase, which is a terrific price. He has won 4 out of 5 and is open to a great deal of improvement after a decent win at Newbury in November. Representing the Nicky Henderson yard, it wouldn’t surprise me if he win impressively on Saturday, meaning that the 16/1 will be long gone.

Recommendation:

3pts each way 16/1 Petit Robin

Desert Orchid Chase Betting

Champion Chase Betting