Montparnasse

Montparnasse is worth another chance after his run in the 14-furlong Melrose Handicap at York on Friday. Always prominent and travelling well up with a fairly fast pace, he just got a little outpaced when they quickened at the top of the home straight. It took him a while to get going again, but he picked up well inside the two-furlong pole to run on into fifth place.

This was only Mountparnasse’s sixth start, there should be more to come and on this evidence he will be well-suited by going over two miles. It took him a while to get going this season, with a few average efforts in his first three starts, but his pedigree suggests that stamina is his forte and he has duly improved as he has stepped up in trip. He won well on his handicap debut at Windsor in June on his first try over 12 furlongs, he then went on to win a handicap at Nottingham when stepped up again in trip to a mile and six furlongs, the form of which has been significantly boosted with the runner-up, Sidney Melbourne, winning at Sandown since, and the third, Boston Blue, running a respectable race in sixth behind Verdant in a competitive handicap at Goodwood.

The handicapper has dropped Montparnasse 1lb for this effort, which is a little bonus. There should be more to come from the son of Montjeu, he is lightly-raced and there is every chance that he could be seen to better effect if he is stepped up again in trip to two miles. He should handle soft ground as well, given that his two half-brothers, Vangelis and Marichal, won a Group 2 and listed race respectively on soft ground.

20th August 2010