McCreery hoping to feel the Downforce on the banks of the Seine

While Britons are struggling over the ‘hump day’ of their working week, much of continental Europe has November 1 off for All Saints Day, a fact reflected in the quality of racing abroad on Wednesday.

In France the 'Toussaints' card at Maisons-Laffitte features a pair of Group 3 contests, with the Prix Seine et Oise (2.55) having attracted the Willie McCreery-trained Downforce and Simmie for the Morny-winning combination of Karl Burke and Tony Piccone.

As a three-year-old filly Simmie still gets plenty in the way of allowances at this stage of the season, but it is Downforce who probably carries the best chance of a win for the visitors.

"We're hoping the ground is nicely soft for him and he's arrived there with everything looking good," said McCreery. "We're happy with him and the softer the better for his chance."

High five: Jockey Francois-Xavier Bertras celebrates after landing the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint aboard The Right Man at Meydan in MarchCredit: Martin Dokoupil

Didier Guillemin brings back Al Quoz Sprint winner The Right Man after a short break and a light campaign, and he could have the Hong Kong International Sprint on the agenda too.

"He's more of a horse for the beginning and end of the year, and I expect a decent run," said Guillemin.

Guignol chases repeat en route to Tokyo

Bavarians will be celebrating 'Allerheiligen' and can look forward to one of the best middle-distance races of the German calendar at Munich, the Group 1 Pastorius-Grosser Preis von Bayern (2.40).

PJ McDonald travels over to take the ride on rank outsider Atillio, but the market revolves around Dschingis Secret and Iquitos (sixth and seventh in the Arc), as well as the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist and Guignol, who made all in this race 12 months ago and arguably posted a career-best when winning the Grosser Preis von Baden in September.

"I've tried to keep Guignol fresh for the end of the year and I think he's better going left-handed, so I deliberately targeted three races – Baden-Baden, Munich, and, if all goes well, the Japan Cup," said trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho.

Dschingis Secret must overcome two hard races in France in the last six weeks, while Iquitos has shown better form in his frequent duels with Guignol when asked to race right-handed.

A repeat of Waldgeist’s close-up fourth in the Irish Derby might well be good enough to take this, but the fact remains he has not visited the winner's enclosure since last season’s Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Rumson may still be on right side of handicapper

Colin Keane has taken the old adage 'lucky last' to a new level at Dundalk so far this all-weather season, winning the last race on the card on four of the last five Friday nights and finishing three-quarters of a length away in second on the other occasion.

The jockeys' title leader will bid to repeat the dose in the 1m4f handicap (8.40) aboard hat-trick hunting Ben Rumson, who has gone up 11lb for his last two wins at the Louth venue – with Keane aboard both times.

Ben Rumson bids to complete a hat-trick at DundalkCredit: Patrick McCann

Trainer Tom McCourt said: "He's very well and looks still to be on the right side of the handicapper. I think a mile and a half is perfect and will suit him better than the extended mile and a quarter last time – the further the better."

He added of Keane: "It'd be great to see Colin win the championship and hopefully he should land it now. He's ridden a lot of winners for me down the years."

Palais out to emulate Golden Horn

Three years ago to the day Golden Horn lost his maiden status at Nottingham over an extended mile.

His trainer John Gosden fields Petit Palais, a half-brother to Guineas winner Galileo Gold by a guaranteed stamina influence in Champs Elysees, in division two of the same maiden (1.0), which now carries the name of his Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Arc hero.

The mount of Robert Havlin, Petit Palais carries the green silks of Princess Haya and faces newcomer Ispoline – a 1.2 million guineas purchase owned by her husband Sheikh Mohammed under the Godolphin banner – and the Roger Varian-trained Rich Identity, who was beaten when odds-on at Redcar on his second start in a field of ten.

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