1. Alson (Andre Fabré/Vincent Cheminaud)
Smart performer who won four of his six starts when trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho as a two-year-old, including the Criterium International at Longchamp on the last occasion. Also finished second behind Victor Ludorum in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the same course on his penultimate start. Needs to improve to reverse those placings, but still commands respect having joined top trainer Andre Fabré during the winter.
2. The Summit (Henri-Alex Pantall/Olivier Peslier)
Showed useful form as a two-year-old, winning one of his four starts, and ran to a similar level on his reappearance in a listed race at Saint-Cloud in March. Seemed to produce a significant career best when winning the Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp last time, making all under a well-judged front-running ride to beat three of these rivals. This is unlikely to pan out quite so favourably, but he still rates a big player if building on that performance.
3. Celestin (Fabrice Chappet/Stephane Pasquier)
Won two of his three starts as a two-year-old, including a listed race at Toulouse on his last outing. He failed to meet market expectations after six months off when second in a minor event at Chantilly last time however, and even his best form leaves him with plenty to find in this company.
4. Shinning Ocean (Christophe Ferland/Christophe Soumillon)
Showed fairly useful form in a low-key two-year-old campaign, with his only win coming in a maiden at Toulouse. Proved better than ever after seven months off to make all in a minor event at Longchamp last time, when value for even more than the official winning margin (around five lengths clear when heavily eased). This is much tougher, but he remains open to more improvement.
5. Victor Ludorum (Andre Fabré/Mickael Barzalona)
Unbeaten in three two-year-old starts, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, when beating three of these rivals. Had possible excuses after seven months off when suffering shock defeat in the Prix de Fontainebleau back at Longchamp last time, with a falsely-run race in testing conditions appearing not to play to his strengths. Should improve for that outing and deserves another chance to confirm the excellent impression he made as a juvenile.
6. Kenway (Frederic Rossi/Theo Bachelot)
Progressed as a two-year-old to win three times (including the Prix la Rochette) before finishing last of seven in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. Showed benefit of his reappearance with a career-best effort to finish fourth in the Prix de Fontainebleau back at Longchamp last time, when likely to have finished closer still but for meeting trouble in the straight. He has place claims here.
7. Arapaho (Andre Fabré/Pierre-Charles Boudot)
Won two of his three-year-old starts and barely needed to improve on that form after nine months off to add Listed win to his tally at Longchamp last time. Should stay this longer trip but still needs to prove he is good enough, with the bare form of what he has achieved to date being a long way off what will be required here.
8. Reshabar (Markus Münch/Tony Piccone)
Unexposed sort who showed much improved form after six months off to open his account in a minor event at Chantilly last time, forging clear to beat the reopposing Celestin by three lengths. May yet have even more to offer, but others make more appeal now faced with much the stiffest task of his short career.
9. Ecrivain (Carlos Laffon-Parias/Maxime Guyon)
Won his first two starts as a two-year-old, including the Prix des Chenes, before finishing a close-up fourth in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. Arguably shaped best after seven months off when second in the Prix de Fontainebleau back at Longchamp last time, doing his best work at the finish after enduring a trouble passage. Closely matched with several of these on form and looks sure to give another good account.
Timeform Verdict:
Andre Fabre has enjoyed much success in this race over the years and his VICTOR LUDORUM gets the nod to come out on top in a high-quality affair.
There were excuses for his underwhelming reappearance at Longchamp, and with that spin under his belt he should be spot on for this. The Summit is taken to chase the Godolphin-owned colt home, while Ecrivain may well have a say, too.
* To celebrate the return of racing, Timeform Race Passes – the ultimate form guide – is free this week and you can check it out here.
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