Tin Horse: drops to Group 3 level for the first time in more than a year
PICTURE: scoopdyga.comGuillemin lowers sights with Classic winner Tin
Preview: France, Sunday (1.30pm BST)
Maisons-Laffitte: Prix Messidor (Group 3) 1m, 3yo+
TIN HORSE (Didier Guillemin/Thierry Jarnet) has been keeping only the highest company since securing Classic success in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains last May and he bids to get back to winning ways on Sunday.
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Although yet to add to that victory, his comeback fifth behind Golden Lilac in the Prix d'Ispahan pleased his trainer.
"He ran fine last time, he hadn't run for a long time and he's entitled to have come of for it. He'll have benefited from that run and I'm expecting him to acquit himself well."
Pisco Sour (Saeed bin Suroor/Mickael Barzalona) has been supplemented by for this €80,000 prize, having landed the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam over 1m2f at this track last summer when trained by Hughie Morrison.
However, he has something to prove after two runs at Meydan (one each on Tapeta and turf) failed to enhance his reputation.
Rockinante (Richard Hannon/Stephane Pasquier) also has to bounce back after disappointing in the Italian 2,000 Guineas but has decent form at the track.
The only three-year-old in the line up, Hannon's representative was a decent fourth behind the best of the French milers in the Prix Djebel in April.
Vagabond Shoes (Yan Durepaire/Olivier Peslier) held off the challenge of Moonwalk In Paris (Jean-Claude Rouget/Christophe Soumillon to claim the Group 3 Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord at Chantilly three weeks ago.
Both horses must carry 4lb penalties but Durepaire believes his charge is getting stronger.
"Initially I expected the Chantilly race would get him fit and I would have been happy to be in the first three so I was a little surprised," said Durepair.
"I gelded him at the end of last year and it took him a little time to adjust, but he's much easier to train and I think he's got more fighting spirit now."
Stand My Ground (Pia Brandt/Christophe Lemaire) was the other supplementary entry on Thursday, while Prince D'Alienor has beaten some useful opponents in two successes at Lyon-Parilly, most recently the Group 1 placed Royal Bench.
Before that the son of Verglas ran with credit when third to Sulle Orme in a Longchamp Listed race in April and is well worth a try at this level.
Also on Sunday (2.40pm BST)
Maisons-Laffitte: Prix De Ris-Orangis (Group 3) 6f, 3yo+
TRAINER John Hills sends Boomerang Bob (Seb Sanders) in search of a first Group success in the Prix De Ris-Orangis.
The Aussie Rules colt was last seen when a close-up seventh in the Jersey Stakes at the royal meeting.
Hills said: "He ran a tremendous race in the Jersey where he got dragged back at a crucial stage and then didn't get a clear run - he'd have been good for another length at least."
Thundery showers throughout the Paris region on Friday and Saturday are likely to have eased the official forecast going of good to soft.
Hills added: "He should be fine on the ground and he does get 7f so those things should work out for him quite well."
Veteran Marchand D'Or (Mikel Delzangles/Davy Bonilla) belatedly makes his seasonal reappearance, having won this race six years ago en route to the first of three wins in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Fred Lalloupet (David Smaga/Gregory Benoist) has yet to win at Group level, but several of his best performances have come on the straight 6f.
Noble Hachy (Luigi Riccardi/Cristian Demuro) suffered her first defeat when fifth to Wizz Kid in the Prix du Gros Chene, which was her first race outside Italy.
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