Juvenile stars with questions to answer as Shadow Of Light and The Lion In Winter face redemption mission in the Prix Jean Prat

Shadow Of Light and The Lion In Winter were in the argument for most exciting juvenile heading into their three-year-old season at the start of the campaign, but both arrive at Deauville with question marks and on something of a redemption mission.

Godolphin's Shadow Of Light took the Middle Park and Dewhurst on his way to being crowned champion two-year-old, but possibly lacked for stamina in the 2,000 Guineas when third and a length behind stablemate Ruling Court and then failed to deliver on market expectations when sent off a strong 6-4 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup back at a sprint trip.

This intermediate distance offers Shadow Of Light a chance to make amends, though Charlie Appleby has expressed some concern over his participation on account of the ground, called good to soft on Saturday. There is rain in the forecast from Saturday evening into raceday.

Appleby said: "Stepping back up to seven furlongs is a positive and hopefully the ground at Deauville will be a bit more forgiving. We will be on weather watch and a decision will be made on the day after we have had a look at the ground. 

"I can't fault his preparation going into this and feel he's the horse to beat if he can run up to anywhere near the form of his Guineas third."

Unbeaten at two, The Lion In Winter had been 2,000 Guineas favourite over the winter. However, he was slow to come to hand in the spring, missed the Newmarket Classic and returned in the Dante at York, sent off the 8-11 favourite but beaten into sixth. He fared even worse in the Derby, down the field in 14th and some 28 lengths off stablemate Lambourn, and takes a marked drop in trip as his connections have a rethink over his optimum conditions.

Aidan O'Brien said: "He drops back in trip for this race. We felt that the Derby was too far and we think this is a nice place for him to start back. He could end up returning to a mile after this."

The third contender from Britain and Ireland has fewer questions to answer on form this season, with Cosmic Year's unbeaten sequence only coming to an end because of the brilliant Field Of Gold at the Curragh.

Juddmonte's son of Kingman is well suited by seven furlongs and Harry Charlton has no concerns heading to France.

Charlton said: "He seems in good form and has enjoyed a good preparation. Cosmic Year ran a nice race in Ireland and is improving with every run. He got a bit far back off a slow pace at the Curragh, but was obviously beaten by a very good horse in Field Of Gold. I'm very happy with him."

Analysis: decent gallop seems likely, but who will it suit?

There has sometimes been an element of last chance saloon about this race since it was shortened to 7f and taken to ruler-straight Deauville in 2019, but there are sound reasons for hoping that one, two or all three of the highly touted visitors from Britain and Ireland may still have plenty of potential upside. 

The least exposed is Cosmic Year, who has only been called up from the Juddmonte jukebox for one shot at Group 1 company this spring, and was second to his owners' Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

Given what the winner did off a more generous pace in the St James's Palace Stakes, there is little to be gained from arguing the more sedate fractions at the Curragh made any significant impact on the finishing order, but Cosmic Year was clear best of the rest despite coming from an unpromising position.

Juddmonte will want this to be run at a decent gallop, and the Andre Fabre-trained Apollo Fountain was supplemented during the week to help ensure there are no excuses on that front. 

Cosmic Year (right): bidding to go one better following his second in the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Edward Whitaker

Something to run at would also presumably aid The Lion In Winter, who was another to be supplemented, and he drops down in trip radically after pulling away his chances in both the Dante and the Derby, although whether he retains the raw speed for this mission must be open to question. 

Possibly hardest to weigh up at this stage of his career is Shadow Of Light, who topped the European two-year-old rankings last term and ran an excellent third to Ruling Court and Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas, an effort which was rated at the time as a pound superior to his victories in the Middle Park and the Dewhurst.

Dropping him back to sprinting in the Commonwealth Cup did not seem to work, however, and it remains to be seen whether the rest of his age group has overtaken him, or else the son of Lope De Vega might have more to give. 

Which way to jump distance-wise with three-year-olds early season is just as much a choice in France, and Maranoa Charlie and Daylight – the highest-rated two-year-old colt and filly there last season – are two sides of the same coin. 

Daylight ran like a non-stayer in the Pouliches, while Maranoa Charlie was overwhelmed on his try at 6f in the Prix Texanita before returning to form in the main trial for this race, the Prix Paul de Moussac at Longchamp, confirming his Prix Djebel superiority over Silius. 

Still unexposed at this trip, having finished third on his only attempt in the Djebel, Woodshauna looks to have the pace to trouble the principals on the evidence of his success in the Texanita, in which he edged out subsequent Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals. 

The Lion In Winter wins the Acomb Stakes at York last AugustCredit: Edward Whitaker

What they say

Christopher Head, trainer of Maranoa Charlie
Maranoa Charlie has shown a lot of speed over 1,400 metres [seven furlongs] and it was great to see him win at this trip at the start of the year. There was then a bit of a hole in the programme at that distance and we had the choice of stepping up to a mile for the Poule d'Essai or coming back in trip for the Prix Texanita, with the option of the Commonwealth Cup to follow. The owners took up the challenge of the sprint and I've no regrets that we tried.

Francis Graffard, trainer of Woodshauna
Woodshauna looks fantastic. I'm very pleased with the condition of the horse and he's ready to give his best and hopefully be competitive in this tough Group 1 race.

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer et Frere, owners of Cacofonix and Silius
Cacofonix has won over 1,400 metres [seven furlongs] and we have a doubt as to whether he is quite fast enough for 1,200 metres [six furlongs]. The form of his last race is working out well. We chose to bypass the Poule d'Essai with Silius in order to concentrate on preparing him for the Jean Prat by way of the Prix Paul de Moussac, and we're sticking with the plan.  

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