Last year's Jockey Club hero leads Fabre charge for an eighth success

Many will have walked off the old stand at Longchamp believing that, with another year on his back, third-placed New Bay would be in prime position to lift the prize in 2016 and give trainer Andre Fabre an eighth victory in the race.

However, little went right for last year’s Prix du Jockey Club hero in the six months immediately following that fine effort.

Late back into training after suffering a foot problem over the winter, New Bay looked undercooked when trailing in sixth to A Shin Hikari here in May and was not seen again until a cosy Group 3 success over Arthenus at Deauville in August.