Last year's French 1000 Guineas winner ELUSIVE WAVE isn't entirely straightforward but is worth chancing here. She remains a potent threat at this level and after chasing Goldikova home in the Prix d'Astarte at Deauville, she gained a confidence-boosting win when dropped in grade at that track last time. Emerald Commander won at Baden-Baden and the Godolphin representative will love underfoot conditions here. Sweet Hearth was placed in the Foret at this meeting last term but hasn't been firing on all cylinders of late so Royal Bench, fifth behind Makfi in the Jacques Le Marois last time, is taken for the forecast spot.
Vertigineux (FR) 7-4 (9-2) 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Elusive Wave (8-11) at Deauville(FR) 1m Grp 3 sft in Aug.
Corconte (FR) (9-6) 98th of 18, 4l behind Cool Star (9-6) at Longchamp(FR) 1m hcp gd in Sep.
Emerald Commander (IRE) (8-9) won at Baden-Baden(GER) 1m Grp 2 in Aug, 9 ran.
Lochinver (USA) (9-2) won at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m stk gs in Sep beating Pink Gin (9-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sweet Hearth (USA) 9-2 (8-11) 7th of 8, 9l behind Sahpresa (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep.
Elusive Wave (IRE) 13-8fav (8-11) won at Deauville(FR) 1m Grp 3 sft in Aug beating Vertigineux (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Royal Bench (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) 5th of 8, 12l behind Makfi (8-11) at Deauville(FR) 1m Grp 1 (1) sft in Aug.
Across The Rhine (USA) 14-1 (9-6) Held up in 6th, 5th and ridden early straight, improved into 2nd over 1f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Steinbeck (9-1) at Curragh 1m Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
