Dewhurst winner has questions to answer on second attempt at a mile

Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1) | 1m, 3yo colts | ATR/RUK

It is a rare enough occurrence for Europe's champion two-year-old to skip the 2,000 Guineas in favour of the French version, although Dewhurst winner Shamardal trod a similar path in 2005.

But then little about US Navy Flag's juvenile career was conventional, with his Group 1 double in the Middle Park and Dewhurst coming in starts number nine and ten of the year.

His sole run over in excess of seven furlongs was a failed experiment on dirt at the Breeders' Cup, while his comeback fourth in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial came on very deep ground.

Aidan O’Brien's sole representative has questions to answer in terms of trip and how he has handled the passage from two to three, but the fact remains he has by some distance the strongest form on offer.

O’Brien said: “He's in good form. He hated the very testing ground at Leopardstown last month and we're hoping it won't be too soft.

"It will be his second time over a mile and we decided on this race rather than going for the Newmarket Guineas.”

Wootton and Olmedo ready for Fontainebleau rematch

After a spring beset by trials run on poor ground, the rousing duel between Wootton and Olmedo in the Prix de Fontainebleau was in many ways the proper start of the Flat season in France.

The ground was once again very testing but both colts showed a real turn of foot to draw clear of their rivals, and sub-24 seconds for the final two furlongs in such conditions marked the pair out as high quality colts.

That much had already been shown at two, with Wootton having headed into the winter in the 'could be anything' category following two wide-margin wins, the second of which came in the Listed Prix Isonomy at Deauville in October.

Wootton was given a proper test in the Fontainebleau and although the margin of success was just a short neck, he always appeared to be holding Olmedo.

“Wootton is in top order,” said trainer Alex Pantall. “He worked very well on Tuesday and has improved at home since his prep race. I couldn’t be happier with him and he appears to be at his optimum racing weight.”

Olmedo ended 2017 as France's highest-rated juvenile after finding only Happily too strong in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Defeat to Wootton in the Fontainebleau meant Olmedo – who races in the Almanzor silks of Antonio Caro – still has only a maiden success to his name in four starts.

But Cristian Demuro wasn't hard on Olmedo in either his prep race for the Lagardere or the Fontainebleau last month, leaving the impression there is more to come.

“He has grown up mentally since last year though he has always been pretty straightforward,” trainer Jean-Claude Rouget told the Equidia racing channel.

“There's rain forecast but I don’t think it will be enough to turn it heavy so he should be fine.

"For me, Olmedo and Wootton are the two form horses, though I don't know what order they'll finish in."

Chappet ready to Roll the Dice

Ten days before Masar blew his rivals away in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, Dice Roll put in a similar barnstorming performance when defeating Magic Bibou by five lengths in the relocated Prix Djebel at Deauville.

That was over a straight seven furlongs on very heavy ground, but last season he demonstrated both his versatility ground-wise and his ability to stay a mile.

“He's in good form and won on good ground last year so, although we're due more rain, I’m not worried either way,” said Fabrice Chappet, who will be attempting to add the colts’ Classic to his CV 12 month on from Precieuse’s victory in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

“He’s recovered from his trial well and has worked well since.”

What they say

James Tate, trainer of Hey Gaman
He's in great form and we used the Greenham at Newbury, in which he was third, as a trial for this. I think a mile round a bend suits him better than a straight mile and the more rain that falls the better as he likes plenty of cut in the ground.

Stephane Wattel, trainer of Infernal Majesty
This is a real challenge and he'll have to perform at a much higher level than previously. But this is the time to try something with him because he's in absolutely flying form.

John Gosden, trainer of Il Primo Sole and Kings Shield
Neither will appreciate the rain that's falling as they're both top-of-the-ground horses, but they're there and will run. Apart from a couple of nice French horses, and of course US Navy Flag, it looks quite an open race, but it's not going to be their ground.

Didier Guillemin, trainer of Francesco Bere
I hope he has gone forward a bit since his comeback. It’s a good field but I expect him to run well. You can forget his run in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere because he'd been in Chantilly for several days for the Arc sale and wasn't relaxed. He's better than he showed then.

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