Lord Shanakill out to land Jean Prat for Britain

Preview: France, Sunday

Chantilly: Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat (Group 1) 1m

NO British-trained horse has won this since Olden Times in 2001, but Lord Shanakill is set to try to put that right this year as one of two foreign raider in the nine-runner field.

Third in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville last year, the Karl Burke-trained Lord Shanakill finished the season with a second in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, but ran only 12th in the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas first time out this season after an interrupted preparation.

 

However, He bounced back to form with third place in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and has been aimed at this race ever since.

The only other runner trained outside France comes from Aidan O'Brien, who has yet to win this event and sends Westphalia.

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains-third (promoted from fourth) has run all his three starts in France this year and filled the same place in the Prix du Jockey-Club last time.

Heading the home team is Oiseau de Feu. Bidding to continue Jean-Claude Rouget's Group 1 monopoly, he is stepping up in class after finishing fourth in the Poulains on his  penultimate start.

>>What they say

David Smaga, trainer of Handsome Maestro 

"He is invery good form and has recovered well from his previous race. He was just beaten that day and I hope he can play a major role. The ground should be no problem."

Gebhard Apelt, stud manager for the Ullman Family, owner of Irian

"He is in excellent form and he worked well this week. We are confident of a good showing although we know the opposition is tough. We don't really know how good he is but heis unbeaten in three races and deserves a crack in top company. Fast ground would suit him best."

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Westphalia

"He's in good form and came out well after his run in the Jockey Club. We're not sure that he stayed the ten and a half furlongs so we're giving him another chance over a mile. He's a colt who travels well and will wear a visor this time as he can be a little lazy."

Karl Burke, trainer of Lord Shanakill

"I think he has come on from his run in the St James's Palace and will go forward for the run as we had to back off him after  the Guineas. He likes good fast ground and is feeling well."

Philippe Demercastel, trainer of Calvados Blue

"This is not his ideal distance as he is a true nine furlong horse but I had no choice to run him as I think the Grand Prix de  Paris will be a very hot race. He is very well and will go on any ground."

Hervé Barjot, racing manager to Pegasus Farms Ltd, owners of Feels All Right

 "Nothing appeared amiss after his run in the Jockey Club. There are just two things which concern us, firstly that he is coming back in distance to a mile and the second is that we hope he has no bad  memories from what happened to him in the Jockey Club. We just hope that all goes well on this occasion and that this race will put him back on thegood path."

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Oiseau De Feu

"He has stayed in very good form and I expect a performance up to his true worth. It is not going tobe a walkover and it is a true Group 1 race."