Prohibit

Prohibit ran a fine prep race for the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day when winning the Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert at the track on trials day on Sunday. He is usually a horse who has to come from behind, but he was up in the van the whole way here from a wide draw, never worse than third, which you have to be really over five furlongs at Longchamp as it is such a quick five furlongs. He had to carry a penalty for his Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes win, and so was giving away upwards of 7lb to everything here, so he did really well to win, beating the useful Mar Adentro, who had finished third in the Prix de l’Abbaye himself last season, into second place. The pair of them had it between them for the final furlong and a half having readily gone past Hamish McGonagall, who stuck on for third.

Prohibit probably wouldn’t have been fully wound up for this with the Prix de l’Abbaye just three weeks away (his trainer went back to Newmarket after his train was delayed en route) and, having run a fine race in the Nunthorpe just over three weeks ago. His lack of peak condition was evident from the way he really had to work hard to keep the second at bay, he had gone into a narrow lead a furlong out and looked like he might go on and win quite easily, but he really had to fight to hold on. That may also have been down to him not enjoying being in front for too long, and so it is encouraging for his chances in the Prix de l’Abbaye that he was able to scrap out victory here since a prominent position will be key in the big race. Of course, he was giving away 7lb to a more than useful horse who goes well over Longchamp’s five furlongs.

He was sixth in the Abbaye last year having been out the back early on, but he is a better horse this season and he proved here that he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by lying closer to the pace in this year’s renewal, which will be an advantage. He has to be on your shortlist for the Abbaye now. A draw close to the near rail would probably make him a bet at likely odds.

11th September 2011