Saint Goustan Blue in pole position but Milord Thomas impresses too

Saint Goustan Blue pushed himself near to the front of the queue among France's senior chasers with an assured performance under Kevin Nabet in the Prix Heros XIII, holding off Milord Thomas to score by three and a half lengths.

Trainer Guillaume Macaire has never had an easy time with the six-year-old, who was a sick horse in the spring and who is always on his toes to the extent Nabet keeps him away from the rest of the field before habitually letting him stride on in front.

Nabet was able to let the others close down the back straight as he allowed Saint Goustan Blue a breather before once again taking command turning in.

In his younger days there would have been a doubt about the son of Blue Bresil relaxing sufficiently to stay this sort of trip, but Nabet now believes the challenge of the Prix La Haye Jousselin, over an extended three and a half miles, is within his compass.

Nabet said: "He's a very good horse and showed again today that has calmed down. Going further won't be a problem in the future."

Dominique Bressou saw plenty of reasons for optimisim with Milord Thomas, who was conceding 4lb and making his first start since the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May.

"He was less ready that I would normally have him for his comeback and he took a big blow running to the Double Barriere [second-last fence], so he ran very well in the circumstances," said the trainer.

Stiffer challenges ahead for Galop Marin

Bressou did pay a visit to the Auteuil winner's enclosure after Galop Marin made all under Morgan Regairaz to land the Grade 3 Prix Camarthen, the last major trial for the Grand Prix d'Automne next month.

Bressou is well aware there is likely to be a strong Anglo-Irish presence for the Grade 1, while the injury-enforced absence of De Bon Coeur and Alex De Larredya has left the senior hurdling ranks somewhat depleted in France.

"The best aren't around and so it is normal he should be the divisional leader without them," said Bressou. "I would have preferred he jumped the last a little better as it's a warm day, so I hope he recovers okay."

Beaumec De Houelle got his head in front when it mattered most to deny longtime leader Pic D'Orhy under a well-judged ride from Pierre Dubourg in the Grade 2 Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy for three-year-old hurdlers, while Eludy put herself in line for Grade 1 honours among the four-year-old chasers when showing a good turn of foot under a patient Nabet in the Prix Orcada.

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