Horse Racing Betting Tips: Rouget’s French Oaks hope can Commes home in front

THOUGH not quite the same as Aidan O’Brien’s domination in thisyear’s Derby with seven of the 13 runners, Jean-Claude Rouget looks to have afirm grip on Sunday’s Prix de Diane (3.05pm), known as the French Oaks, atChantilly.

He saddles four fillies in the race, headed by COMMESwho was last seen flying home late to just be denied by a nose in the French1,000 Guineas.

That’s the strongest piece of form held by any of Rouget’srunners and I expect her to lead home his quartet, if not the whole field at oddsof 5/1.

Siyarafina, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, has been markedup as the 6/4 favourite and is the obvious danger.

The unbeaten daughter of Pivotal didn’t run as atwo-year-old but has looked very impressive on her three starts this season.

She won comfortably on debut at Saint-Cloud over a mile,before winning the Prix du Louvre over the same distance on her next start, andthen followed that up by landing the Group One Prix Saint Alary over 1m2f onher most recent appearance.

The question is, are you prepared to get involved at 6/4?

Though she soundly beat Commes over a mile on that secondstart in the Prix du Louvre, things may play out a little differently over anextra two furlongs.

Commes is having her first crack over the distance and,given there’s plenty of stamina in her pedigree, I’m prepared to take a chanceon her at the prices.