Cloth Of Stars can shine back at Saint-Cloud

Jean-Claude Rouget has by far the strongest team of three-year-olds in Europe and has won all the Group 1’s in France, bar the Poulains, this season. He also won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with Qemah and appears to have an extremely good chance of winning the Grand Prix De Paris at Saint-Cloud (6.35) tonight with Mekhtaal.

Mekhtaal was a bitter disappointment when second favourite for the Prix-du Jockey Club last time but there was an obvious excuses for him that day as he seemed to totally lose it in the parade and after that his race was run.

He actually didn’t run too badly, as he was last turning for home and stayed on steadily under hand riding to finish eighth. Mekhtaal will very much appreciate the step up to 1m4f on pedigree, so the only negative is the possibility of heavy ground, which certainly wouldn’t help.