Marmelo and Christophe Soumillon bid for second Prix Kergorlay success

Darley Prix Kergorlay | Group 2, 3yo+ | 1m7f | Live on Sky Sports Racing

Popular stayer Marmelo will bid to maintain his impressive record at Deauville in the Prix Kergorlay, a race he won two years ago.

The globetrotting six-year-old, runner-up in the Darley-sponsored Group 2 last year before filling the same place in the Melbourne Cup, has form figures at the French track of 2212 and again has Christophe Soumillon in the saddle – as he was for the last two runnings of the Kergorlay.

Trainer Hughie Morrison, who is bidding for a third Kergorlay in four seasons with Nearly Caught having won for the trainer in 2016, said: "He's fine. He travelled over on Friday and we're hoping for a good run, but this is a means to an end which is Australia and the Melbourne Cup.

"I'd be concerned about how heavy the ground is – we've looked for soft ground all his life but there's soft ground and then there's heavy.

"I haven't overpushed him and I've looked after him since his last run. He's getting older and I want to keep him in one piece for bigger days. I'd guess this is his last run before the Melbourne Cup and the plan is to go straight there afterwards."

Marmelo is not the oldest in the field with Gordon Elliott sending over the ten-year-old Pallasator. He is reunited with Jamie Spencer, who won the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot the only previous time he has ridden Qatar Racing's dual-purpose performer.

Elliott said: "Pallasator is in good form and he travelled over well. He'd probably prefer a little bit further but he's in good form and we're happy with him."

Freddy Head, trainer of the penalised Call The Wind, is not happy with his five-year-old having to give weight away all round

The Chantilly trainer said: "I am really happy with him and he goes on heavy. He has to give away 4lb which I don’t think is right but he is well."

Vaughan hopeful there's more to come from Dame Malliot