The going is heavy here once again but that was also the case when American Flag beat Marhaba Ya Sanafi in a Group 3 trial over track and trip. The former needs to reverse last year’s form at Deauville with VALIMI, who won over a mile here last month and Jean-Claude Rouget will have him primed for this. The latter is preferred to stablemate Kubrick, who was beaten by Good Guess and Breizh Sky over 7f at Deauville last time. Ballydoyle send over Group 3 winner Hans Andersen and he’s another upped in distance along with Isaac Shelby, who won the Greenham at Newbury with a below par Knight well behind.
Breizh Sky (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Good Guess (9-2) at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks sft in Apr.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind American Flag (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 hvy in Apr.
Valimi (FR) 7-4 (8-13) won at ParisLongchamp 1m stks sft in Apr beating Halfway Line (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Kendly (FR) 9-4 (8-13) won at Toulouse 1m lst stks hvy in Apr beating Cambronne (8-13) by 2l, 9 ran.
American Flag (FR) (9-2) won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 hvy in Apr beating Marhaba Ya Sanafi (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Good Guess (9-2) won at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks sft in Apr beating Breizh Sky (9-2) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Isaac Shelby 15-2 (9-2) Raced keenly early, made all, shaken up and came easily clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, eased towards finish, unchallenged, won at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Apr beating Charyn (9-2) by 3l, 11 ran.
Hans Andersen 8-13fav (9-5) Tracked leaders in 4th, closer in 3rd and pushed along 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden clear 1f out, stayed on strongly, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr beating Bold Discovery (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Kubrick (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 5, 1 3/4l behind Good Guess (9-2) at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks sft in Apr.
Knight (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Mid-division near side of group, pushed along over 2f out, weakened soon after, 7th of 11, 18l behind Isaac Shelby (9-2) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Apr.