Sporting Chance leads another strong team as Brits seek more French success

Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte | Group 2 | 6f | 2yo

After eight British victories across Arc weekend, further Parisian success looks almost assured on Saturday.

The Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte has gone to a British two-year-old in three of the last four years and there is only one home-trained contender taking on seven overseas challengers this time.

Simon Crisford, whose Ostilio was one of Britain's winners on the first day at the Arc meeting, heads those travelling across the Channel with the progressive Sporting Chance, who scored in Listed company at Ripon in August before landing a Group 3 here last month.

Watch Sporting Chance score at Ripon

"I'm very happy with him," the trainer said. "He's done very well since his last victory in France. He's a course-and-distance winner and I hope he can put up a good performance.

"Obviously this is going to be a tougher assignment for him but he's tough and hardy and I hope he can continue to progress."

Kevin Ryan is having another crack at a race he won with Balthazaar's Gift in 2005 and Our Jonathan four years later.

Explaining the attraction of an autumn trip to the Parisian suburbs, his son and assistant Adam said: "It's a good race at this time of year. Unless you're going for something like the Middle Park there are very few races of that ilk about."

The yard run Hello Youmzain, a Carlisle debut winner who was beaten a short head in a novice contest at Haydock last month.

Hello Youmzain (left) just loses out to San Donato at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost/photos.com)

"He's a lovely horse," Ryan added. "It's a big step up for him but he was probably a little unfortunate not to win last time and we think a lot of him. He's travelled over fine and he goes there with a chance."

Arc principals John Gosden and William Haggas clash once again, with Legends Of War and Queen Of Bermuda playing the parts of Enable and Sea Of Class, while Little Kim won a French Group 3 race for Karl Burke in July.

Sole French hope is the Yann Barberot-trained Graignes, who was a length and three-quarters behind Sporting Chance in third place here last time and reopposes on the same terms.

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