Allied Powers (near): will not find it easy against a strong home challenge
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Allied Powers faces tough task in Prix d'Hedouville
Preview: France, Tuesday (1450 BST)
Longchamp: Prix d'Hedouville (Group 3) 1m4f, 4yo+
ALLIED POWERS (Michael Bell/Ioritz Mendizabal) returns almost exactly two years after he won this event for the first time before going on to take the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly.
The seven-year-old has not won since, although he has been placed in good company on several occasions. He made his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Surprise Stakes at Newbury and finished five lengths second to Harris Tweed.
It will not be easy for Allied Powers as there are several smart performers in the field of eight and notably Solemia (Carlos Laffon-Parias/Olivier Peslier). She was runner up to the talented Vadamar in the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris last year and a four-length winner of the Listed Prix Lord Seymour over the course and distance last month. Solemia is sure to act on what will be very testing surface.
Molly Malone (Mikel Delzangles/Gregory Benoist) is another soft ground specialist. Never out of the first three in five outings, she reappeared at Lyon-Parilly and stayed on well to win a conditions race with plenty in hand. Dance Moves (Andre Fabre/Maxime Guyon) won over 1m2½f at Saint-Cloud last time out but has already made his presence felt over longer trips.
What they say
Michael Bell, trainer of Allied Powers
"Actually I find him in very good form and at a peak. He was castrated during the winter and also hada minor wind operation. The other day he made the best performance first time out in his career. He will adore the cut in the ground."
Carlos Laffon-Parias, trainer of Solemia
"She's just fine and came out of her last race in good form. This race looks a good opportunity for her and she won't mind the testing ground. The filly has already beaten several of the other runners."
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