Sottsass survives scare in Niel to cement his place as France's leading hope

Sottsass and Cristian Demuro escaped from a potentially costly trap behind pacemaker Veronesi to ultimately record a comfortable success in the Qatar Prix Niel at Longchamp.

Those with memories of past trials cards were reaching for comparisons with Peintre Celebre, who was undone at very cramped odds on this day in similar circumstances 22 years ago, but who went on to rout his field in the Arc three weeks later.

Paddy Power left the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club winner unchanged at 7-1, though a time of 2m27.46s was the fourth fastest in the last 15 editions and was marginally faster than Star Catcher ran in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille 35 minutes earlier.

"It wouldn't have been that serious [if he had been beaten], it's a prep race, though of course it’s better to win," said Rouget. "The thing that concerns me more is they ran a very good time and to be frank, I'd have preferred that not to be the case. But he picked up well and, having been trapped on the rail, that meant he expended the minimum effort. He only ran for 150 metres which is great."

Rouget added: "Today wasn't necessarily an easy hurdle to clear. It may not have been a great field but that doesn't count for everything. There is the long break and the pressure of needing to win, while you need to minimise his efforts because three weeks passes fast."

Waldgeist strolls past Foy rivals

There have been bigger ripples in the ante-post market for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the past but Waldgeist could do no more than show his superiority over three rivals in the Prix Foy, cantering to a two-length success.

Way To Paris ran on for second while Japanese challenger Kiseki was third having set fairly modest fractions under Christophe Soumillon.

Most firms clipped Waldgeist to 12-1 from a general 14-1, while Enable is no better than 4-5 to land a historic hat-trick next month.

"He's one of those horses who improves [with age] and never dips, so it's a great advantage to have a horse like that who is not just a one-shot event," said co-owner Dietrich von Boetticher. "I'm extremely pleased because he did it with calmness and with ease. It was a wonderful training run for him and he is ready for the next challenge."

Kiseki's trainer, Katsuhiko Sumii, debriefs the Japanese press after his horse finished third in the Qatar Prix FoyCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Paddy Power reacted to Kiseki's performance by pushing him out to 100-1 (from 40), reflecting a belief that the representative of Katsuhiko Sumii needed to rival Waldgeist in the Foy to announce himself as a serious Arc challenger.

Sumii was far less downbeat than the bookmakers having seen the way his charge coped with his Longchamp rehearsal.

"He handled the track well and will have learned from that, as well as having experienced the Longchamp environment," said Sumii. "He will have a rest now and then we will build him up for the Arc. I would love to see him sit second next time and get a lead."

Eaves keeps cool in Abbaye test

Glass Slippers showed her love affair with France was no flash in the pan after coming from last to first in the Prix du Petit Couvert, a leading trial for the Prix de l'Abbaye.

Kevin Ryan was making off with the euros for the second time this summer with Bearstone Stud's homebred daughter of Dream Ahead, following a Listed success at Deauville.

Glass Slippers was two lengths adrift of the main group at half way but Tom Eaves kept his nerve to guide her to a short-neck defeat of the Clive Cox-trained Shades Of Blue.

Asked if plan A had gone out the window early, Eaves said: "You can say that, but I was aware they were going very quick and I knew she would come so I wasn't going to rush her and get her on her head. It worked out grand and she seems to be improving all the time."

City Light: on target for the Prix de la Foret on Arc dayCredit: Mark Cranham

City Light makes Foret case

A top-class horse on his day over six furlongs, City Light produced a telling turn of foot under Christophe Soumillon to run down his rivals in the Group 3 Prix du Pin over the downhill seven of the Longchamp toboggan.

At the line City Light had a length and a half to spare over Graignes and had trainer Stephane Wattel already dreaming of the Prix de la Foret on Arc day for his stable star.

"He really enjoyed not being under pressure by the speed of others in a straight line sprint but rather allowing his own finishing burst to be the decisive factor," said Wattel. "It will be a very exciting three weeks for all of us who work with this horse and to aim for the Foret will be fantastic."

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