Tokaido takes on two in the Prix Robert Papin

Sunday’s racing calendar delivers a sharp contrast of disciplines: the flat’s Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly pits three horses in a high-stakes duel, while Newton Abbot’s jumps card closes the Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase with two in-form chasers colliding. The afternoon’s outcome may shape the autumn picture for the three-year-olds and could potentially influence the handicap ratings of the chasing brigade, making it a day where momentum matters as much as pedigree.

A three-horse shootout built on recent momentum

The Prix Robert Papin’s renewal is anything but a procession. Tokaido, trained by Amy Murphy, arrives after comfortably claiming the Group Three Prix du Bois at Chantilly—his first six-furlong assignment—so the step up to Group Two terrain is the genuine test. His stable has not hidden their belief that the extra quarter-mile will suit his turn of foot, and connections will watch closely whether his stamina ceiling matches his acceleration.

Joseph O’Brien’s King Of Cloughan represents the Ballydoyle challenge. A son of St Mark’s Basilica, he justified favouritism in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot only when finding a clear run late, a pattern that suggests he relishes a lively pace. Pierre-Charles Boudot’s booking signals serious intent to dictate early rather than rely on a late burst.

Beibhinn, a Listowel maiden winner before finishing third in a Listed race at the Curragh, offers outsider value. Her progression through maiden to Listed form has been consistent, and a breakneck pace could force her to settle deeper than she has previously, a tactical wrinkle worth monitoring.

Newton Abbot’s championship finale hinges on recovery and rhythm

At Newton Abbot, the Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase closes with No More No and Edgewell trading blows. Lawney Hill’s No More No has won twice since returning from a layoff, though the trainer has noted fitness margins that could tighten over jumps. A three-pound higher mark reflects his recent form, yet the question remains whether he can replicate his two-from-two record when the ground turns softer.

Edgewell, meanwhile, has already beaten this course this season and arrives in red-hot form. His recent victory suggests he thrives in front, so the race shape may decide whether No More No’s late kick or Edgewell’s front-running style prevails. The handicap weights have already separated them by three pounds, but the course record and recent ground changes could flip that narrative.

Tactical chess in Chantilly’s Group Two, Newton Abbot’s handicap puzzle

At Chantilly, the Prix Robert Papin’s small field invites tactical nuance. Tokaido’s trainer has praised his six-furlong aptitude, yet King Of Cloughan’s late Ascot surge indicates he can repel rivals when the tempo rises. If Boudot can engineer a fast early gallop, Beibhinn may struggle to mount a sustained challenge, while Tokaido’s finishing burst could be blunted by the lack of cover.

Across the Channel, Newton Abbot’s handicap chase is a study in rhythm. Edgewell’s front-running tendencies and No More No’s late surge create a binary outcome: either the leader dictates and holds on, or the closer finds daylight in the final furlong. The three-pound difference in their weights is marginal, but the course record and softer ground could magnify that gap.

The afternoon’s results will ripple beyond the immediate prize money. Tokaido’s Group Two bid could cement his status as a serious autumn target, while King Of Cloughan’s connections will gauge whether his late kick is a strength or a weakness in stiffer company. At Newton Abbot, the championship’s final chapter may hinge on which horse adapts better to the ground and the race shape, turning a seemingly straightforward clash into a tactical masterclass.