Bell and Watson out to score in France as Moore jets in for Coolmore connection

Two highlights of the Cagnes-sur-Mer all-weather winter meeting have drawn British-based interest, both in terms of UK-trained horses that have escaped the halt to operations at home and a very familiar face among the riding ranks.

Michael Bell and Archie Watson are both represented in the Listed Grand Prix de la Riviera Cote d’Azur – Jacques Bouchara (1.17) over 1m2f, while Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard Alwaysandforever for Chantilly-based Irishman Gavin Hernon.

Bell saddles Plait, a late-maturing daughter of Bated Breath who flew home to score at Chelmsford by 12 lengths on her debut for the yard under Sara del Fabbro.

Michael Bell struggles to recall an easier winner in his career than Plait's 12-length stroll at ChelmsfordCredit: Getty Images

Maxime Guyon gets the call this time around and Bell is unsure where Plait's limits might be.

"She's been a bit of a revelation and I thought that visually she was just about the easiest winner I've had in my career," said Bell. "She thoroughly deserves to take her chance in a black-type race, while Maxime Guyon won on Poetry for me and is one of the top guys."

Hernon took charge of Coolmore's Alwaysandforever upon Luca Cumani's retirement and has inherited a filly with a smart level of form, including when finishing fourth to runaway winner Lah Ti Dar in the Galtres Stakes at York.

"She showed on her last outing in the UK that the all-weather could be an interesting route to go," said Hernon. "I've been working her at home with a horse rated 104 over a mile and she’s showed me that she should have the speed for a mile and a quarter on the all-weather, that’s the hope."

Ryan Moore and Alwaysandforever scoring at Windsor last MayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alwaysandforever is Moore's only booked ride of the day at Cagnes and Hernon added: "Ryan knows her well having won on her twice and finished fourth at York behind Lah Ti Dar, so we’re hoping this will be the day she can get that Listed win."

Pump Pump Palace, the mount of Pierre-Charles Boudot, is likely to be among the home favourites having won a notable trial, while the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Aubevoye showed his liking for the track when finishing second in the same race.

"Last time was an exploratory run to see if he handled the surface and it worked out," said Bruno Barberau, racing manager to Aubevoye's owner-breeder, Gerard Augustin-Normand.

"He was ridden out the back, just as he was when he won his Listed race. It’s unfortunate that he has a 2kg [4.4lb] penalty for that Listed win but he's been working well. He's drawn 14 so we’ll ride him the same way and hope there is some pace in the race for him to run at."

Mango Tango has plenty of French experience from her time with Pascal Bary and, after spending two seasons in Qatar, won on debut for Archie Watson at Lingfield in November.

She may have paid the price late on for trying to match strides with Wissahickon when fifth over the same course and distance last time and Edward Greatrex travels over to keep the partnership intact.

Mango Tango (left) ran down Toast Of New York to score at Lingfield in NovemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Watson and Greatrex also team up in the Listed Prix de la Californie (3.42) with Barys, who got his head in front at the fifth attempt at Lingfield in November and is clearly well-regarded judged on his fourth-placed effort in the Convivial Maiden at York back in August.

Standing in his way – both physically and talent-wise – will be the giant Trouville, whose two runs to date have shown he has an engine to power his expansive frame.

Having found only Goya Senora too strong on the infamous day at Deauville last December when racing was abandoned because of freezing rain, Trouville made no mistake here last month and is another to carry the cream and violet Augustin-Normand silks.

Barberau said: "Christophe Ferland has always adored this horse and when he made his debut at Deauville it was the day of the storm and he got left in front over what was probably slightly too far.

"Last time he won very nicely, much as we expected, and he's a very strong and imposing horse who has room to improve further. He has worked well and we’re expecting a big run."

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