The Revenant runs fine comeback but Lockinge bid could hinge on travel issues

The Revenant made a fine return to action when run down late on by Wally and Duhail in the Prix Edmond Blanc on Saturday, on what was his first start since landing the QEII Stakes on British Champions Day last October.

But trainer Francis Graffard and owners Al Asayl will be hoping for an improvement in the situation at the Calais-Dover crossing before committing to further attempts on Britain's top Group 1 prizes, after Silver Quartz suffered serious delays on his way to running at Lingfield on All-Weather Finals Day.

"That was a good comeback run because he had plenty against him," said Graffard. "It was his first run and he was giving away a lot of weight on good ground, which will have suited some of his opponents much more than him.

"Today wasn't the objective and he's in the Prix du Muguet and the Lockinge Stakes. But it will depend how easy it is to travel because getting Silver Quartz to the race at Lingfield on Friday proved very tough.

"My horse had to wait five hours at customs and whether that becomes easier will play a big part. We'll see how the horse comes out of his race and it remains an option."

Both The Revenant and Silver Quartz run in the colours of Al Asayl and racing manager Johnny Peter-Hoblyn was in lockstep with his trainer in questioning whether the post-Brexit travel situation was sustainable.

"He was meant to be at Lingfield at 11 o'clock in the morning and he didn't arrive until eight o'clock in the evening," Peter-Hoblyn said of Silver Quartz. "As an organisation that's based in France and England we do understand these travel issues, but animal welfare seems to be the least of anyone's concerns, which I find disgusting.

"With a horse like The Revenant, travel plans would definitely come into it before we commit to the Lockinge. The plan would be to run if the ground were the soft side of good but, having said that, if we're going to spend 12 hours on a horsebox to get from Chantilly to Newbury, then that's ridiculous. We could think about flying. We'll look at all options and we'll do what's best by the horse."

Cristian Demuro debriefs Jean-Claude Rouget and owner Jean-Pierre Barjon after Wally wins the Group 3 Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-CloudCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

None of that should detract from the turn of foot shown by Wally, who was stepping up from two wins on the all-weather at Cagnes-sur-Mer and was getting 6lb from The Revenant.

"This is a quite a different context to winning at Cagnes but he really finished with a rattle there," said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. "Cristian [Demuro] has a lot of trust in him and it's great to win a Group race with him. We'll have to try a Group 1 now.

"He could take in the Prix du Muguet but I'd love to have a crack at the Prix d'Ispahan, and it might be tough to take in both with a horse like him. The ground will play a big part in the choice."

Wally was a first Group winner in racing for owner Jean-Pierre Barjon, who is president of the harness racing federation, Le Trot.

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