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Dettori out to serve up more magic on Advertise in Prix Maurice de Gheest

Advertise Frankie Dettori
Advertise (right): Royal Ascot winner steps up in trip in FranceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest (Group 1) | 6½f | 3yo+ | SKY

Too Darn Hot aside, it has been a tough first few weeks of inter-generational combat for the three-year-olds.

However, the Classic crop threw down quite the marker in the sprint division when filling the first five places in the July Cup at Newmarket last month.

While impressive winner Ten Sovereigns is home at Ballydoyle, the form is strongly represented here, with runner-up Advertise leading the way under Frankie Dettori, having readily accounted for his July Cup conqueror the time before in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Martyn Meade said: "We were very pleased with him at Ascot and, dare I say it, slightly disappointed at Newmarket in the July Cup. We didn't jump quite as well as we might have and didn't expect Ten Sovereigns to run that sort of race. We were closing at the end and I certainly think the extra half a furlong here will play to his strengths."


View the result and replay of last month's July Cup here


Pollyanna back to site of Morny glory

Michael Bell will have extremely fond memories of his last visit to Deauville with Pretty Pollyanna after the filly landed the Group 1 Prix Morny the previous year.

The daughter of Oasis Dream has a length and three-quarters to find with Advertise on their July Cup running but Bell believes there is reason to be optimistic this time round.

"I like her draw out on the far side in stall 14 and she is in good form," said Bell. "The owners are hoping for better luck than when just getting chinned with James Garfield last year.

"At Newmarket she was a bit unlucky because just as the stalls opened, the horse drawn next to her upset her and she missed the start by two or three lengths. She wouldn't have beaten Ten Sovereigns but we were value for a bit better than where she finished, which puts us right in the mix."

Head and Polydream out for repeat win

Wind the clock back a year and Polydream stormed home to defeat her rivals in this contest.

Not a lot has gone to plan since but the four-year-old looked to be returning to somewhere near her best when scoring easily at Group 3 level around Longchamp's downhill seven-furlong 'toboggan'.

Polydream has won all three of her previous starts at Deauville and trainer Freddy Head said: "She is really well and seems in great form. She loves Deauville so this has been her target all year. A lot will depend on how the race unfolds and I hope Maxime [Guyon] can get a nice tow into the race behind the right horses."

Trip into unknown for classy One Master

It was a similar story in both the Queen Anne and the Falmouth Stakes for One Master, who stormed into contention and travelled like a winner only to be outstayed close home.

Last season's Prix de la Foret heroine would have been interesting tried again at a mile over this easier configuration but William Haggas has opted to come back in distance.

One Master and Pierre-Charles Boudot (green sleeves and cap) run down Inns Of Court to score in the Prix de la Foret
One Master and Pierre-Charles Boudot (green sleeves and cap) run down Inns Of Court to score in the Prix de la ForetCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"When I offered the jockey [Pierre-Charles Boudot] the option of the Prix Rothschild or the Maurice de Gheest, he said unequivocally this race," said Haggas. "I think a mile might be a little too far and six and a half could be a little too short but she has a lot of speed and is getting quicker so it will be interesting."

What they say

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Brando
He's in great form and we're looking forward to it. The ground was too quick for him at Newmarket last time so hopefully this will suit better. I don't think there is much rain forecast but any they happened to get would be to his advantage.

Thierry Lemer, trainer of King Malpic
He hadn't run for seven weeks before his win at Maisons-Laffitte and he has definitely come forward in the last three weeks. It's his trip and, although he was getting weight, the race where he beat Polydream at Longchamp was a really good effort.

James Tate, trainer of Invincible Army
He's been in great form all year and is three wins from four runs. I think the flat track at Deauville is really going to suit him. The half a furlong extra is an unknown but he is in great form and we're really excited to see if he can break his Group 1 duck. You never know until you try but I honestly don't see why he wouldn't get the trip and I'm quite relaxed about it.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Le Brivido and So Perfect
Both of them ran well in Group 1s last time – Le Brivido in the Diamond Jubilee and So Perfect in the July Cup – and they came out of their races well. They seem in good form and we're happy with them. The track and the distance should suit both.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Space Blues
Space Blues is dropping back another half-furlong but we don't see it as a negative as he shows plenty of natural pace. He wasn't disgraced when finishing second to Too Darn Hot in the Prix Jean Prat and has come out of the race in good order. He has put up some decent performances since we dropped him down in trip and I think we could see him as a proper sprinter later in his career.

Lisa-Jane Graffard, representative for Godolphin, owner of Munitions
Munitions has come out of the Prix Jean Prat in great form. We would be hopeful that he can pick up some prize-money, but would be surprised to see him win.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Fox Champion
He ran very well there last time, the track suits him and bringing him back in trip will be right up his street. It looks a very good race but hopefully he'll run very well.


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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 3 August 2019inInternational

Last updated 17:49, 3 August 2019

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