Three things to note for the Group races as Longchamp reopens

Chilean aims to get Meade off to a flyer

With France Galop moving back into the newly rebuilt Longchamp, Martyn Meade might consider Chilean an appropriate winner of the first Group race of the course's new era, the Prix La Force (2.45).

The son of Iffraaj will be Meade's first runner since his own big move from Newmarket to the historic Manton estate in Wiltshire last month.

His three-year-old Chilean won the Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock on heavy ground last September before finishing sixth to Investec Derby favourite Saxon Warrior when last seen in the Racing Post Trophy.

"I wasn’t really happy with his performance, I don’t think he was quite himself," said Meade. "I’d have expected him to run a bit better than that and we put him away."

Chilean's ability to handle testing conditions will certainly be of assistance in a race which marks the start of the road to the middle- distance Classics.

"He’s wintered very, very well and from there we’ll decide whether he goes to the Dante or the Classic Trial at Sandown," said Meade.

Study Of Man is out of a daughter of the great MiesqueCredit: Cranham

Among nine rivals who are mainly short on experience, Study Of Man has been seen as a horse with the scope to take high rank at three ever since posting an impressive win on his sole start at Saint-Cloud last September.

Study Of Man is a grandson of the great Miesque and, like Chilean's Doncaster conqueror Saxon Warrior, is by Japanese super sire Deep Impact.

"We have been very happy with Study Of Man, who has matured well physically over the winter," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to the colt's owner/breeders, the Niarchos family.

"He has been working nicely and giving Stephane [Pasquier] a good feel. This is only his second start and it’s the beginning of what we hope will be a long year.

"The race fits into the calendar well coming out of the winter and the 1,800 metres [a mile and a furlong] will give Stephane a good steer as to whether he's a 2,000 metre [mile and a quarter] horse or whether he’ll need a bit further."

Deep ground a plus for Air Pilot

Half of the 12-strong field for the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt (3.20) renew acquaintance from Saint-Cloud three weeks ago, when Air Pilot was the four-length winner of a quite extraordinary race for the Group 3 Prix Exbury, which was run in a near-blizzard.

The Ralph Beckett-trained nine-year-old was running on the heaviest ground he had encountered when pulling four lengths clear of Way To Paris under Christophe Soumillon, who resumes the partnership.

A penetrometer reading of 5.2 – or very heavy – taken at Longchamp on Saturday promises another testing afternoon as Air Pilot seeks a first career Group 2 success.

Beckett said: "He’s always been ground-dependent. It’s going to be tough for him but he's in good form and is taking on horses who either haven’t run yet or else haven’t shown their best form.

"He's got to have a chance because he'll have his optimum conditions and he’ll have a man on board who knows him well."

Air Pilot (nearside): bids to follow up a recent victoryCredit: Caroline Norris

Simon Crisford sends the progressive Century Dream, who won four of his most recent five starts in handicap company last year and steps into Pattern class for the first time under William Buick.

Garlingari, who won the Harcourt in 2016, might be expected to have come on for his run in the Exbury, while Finche makes his first start since finishing third to Cracksman in the Prix Niel.

Waldgeist – a close up fourth in last season's Irish Derby – also returns to action.

Strawbridge adds to Classic options

The Prix Vanteaux (3.55) marks the first start in France for one of last season's leading juvenile fillies in Germany, Rock My Love.

Now trained by Freddy Head in Chantilly, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor has been bought to run in the colours of George Strawbridge, who already has the homebred With You to look forward to among his three-year-old fillies.

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