Charlie Hills happy electric Battaash is at his brilliant best for Abbaye test

4.30 LongchampPrix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines | Group 1 | 5f | 2yo+ | SKY

Battaash set to thrill again

If there is one horse who might threaten to upstage Enable's date with destiny, it could be electric sprinter Battaash, who is rated just 3lb inferior to the mighty mare and is absolutely brilliant when on his A game.

Lightning in the 2017 Abbaye at Chantilly, Battaash has been in blistering form this campaign and produced a career-best when blasting his Nunthorpe rivals at York in August.

Trainer Charlie Hills, who bypassed last month's Flying Five in Ireland with Hamdan Al Maktoum's popular five-year-old, said: "We've had a very similar preparation to York and we've been pleased with his work and he seems nice and fresh in himself.

"Missing Ireland gave us a chance to freshen him up and I think it's done him good. It looked like he won easily at York, but no horse can do what he does and have an easy time of it.

"I'm happy with the draw in stall 11. Last year, when he was fourth, he was drawn closer to the rails, which forces you to do one thing, go forward. At least now we can choose what to do and have a couple of options.

"He's won a couple of times on easy ground – it was soft at Chantilly when he won the Abbaye and his first King George at Goodwood was on horrible ground."

Mabs aiming for repeat win

Mabs Cross, fourth to Battaash in the Nunthorpe, was a 12-1 winner of last year's Abbaye so knows what it takes to land the Group 1 prize. Autumn conditions could help her return to the winner's enclosure, according to trainer Michael Dods.

Mabs Cross (red): winning last year's AbbayeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She's travelled over to France well and I think the ground, if it's soft, will suit her better than what she's been running on," he said. "If Battaash runs his race I can't see anything beating him, but we'll give it a good go anyway."

O'Brien has grounds for concern

Aidan O'Brien has never won the Abbaye, but has two live chances to put that right in the shape of three-year-old fillies Fairyland and So Perfect, who finished first and second in the Flying Five when last seen.

Fairyland (pale blue cap): beating So Perfect (purple) last monthCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"Only a short head separated them in the Flying Five at the Curragh last time," O'Brien said.

"Both of them came out of the race well. Hopefully, the ground won't be too soft as neither of them seemed to be mad about it when they ran in the Sprint Cup at Haydock."

Good Call?

Soldier's Call finished behind Battaash in the King's Stand and Nunthorpe this season, but was in front of him when third – as a juvenile – in last year's Abbaye.

Soldier's Call and Danny Tudhope run out impressive winners of the Flying Childers StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

He was probably not at his sharpest in the Curragh's Flying Five last month, although trainer Archie Watson reports his stable star in top form.

Squaring up to Battaash and co after retirement

Emotion is unlikely to be in short supply at Longchamp and expect Mauricio Delcher Sanchez to shed a tear if Finsbury Square completes a fairytale comeback.

The then six-year-old was retired after finishing ninth in last year's Abbaye, bringing to a close a fine 38-race career that yielded three Group strikes and more than £400,000 in prize-money.

The gelding's new role would be as Chantilly-based Spaniard Delcher Sanchez's hack.

However, such was the spring in Finsbury Square's step this summer he was put back into training and showed spark when a three-quarter-length third in a minor event at Lyon Parilly last week.

"He had a lot of physical problems throughout his career and after he ran in the Abbaye last year the intention was to retire him and for him to be my stable hack," explained the trainer.

"We had no intention of putting him back into training, but in July he started doing some gentle canters with the others and you could see he was well in himself.

"At the beginning of September, the vet looked him over and said he had made a lot of progress in terms of his ailments and it's wonderful our stable pony could be prepared to run in a Group 1 on Arc day."

Delcher Sanchez, who saddled Equiano to win his first King's Stand in 2008 before he switched to Barry Hills, added: "He is in very good form and he always gives his best. Last year, he ran well to be beaten under four lengths considering his issues and, although he has only run once and might lack match practice, I'm sure he will run well."

What the rest say

Andrea Marcialis, trainer of Sestilio Jet and Jolie
Sestilio Jet is up against some very good horses here who will be tough to beat but he could go well. It will be hard for Jolie, who is a two-year-old filly who prefers good ground.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Manana, owner of Invincible Army
I don't know if he's a five-furlong horse but he deserves to take his chance, although it looks a tough race.

Pascal Bary, trainer of Gold Vibe and Spinning Memories
Gold Vibe is very much an autumn horse and he is in good form. Spinning Memories is well and she will have a leading chance if we get more rain.

John Quinn, trainer of El Astronaute
He won't mind the ground and he has a chance of being in the money on his best form.

Clive Cox, trainer of Shades Of Blue
We won our first Group 1 in this race with Gilt Edge Girl and this filly is in excellent form, but we'd have liked a drier surface. She ran very well on the track last time out, but probably just lacked a bit of concentration in the closing stages, hence the cheekpieces.

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