Prix Maurice de Gheest - Form Comments

Brando

A regular runner in this race and even at the age of nine it would be no surprise if he finished in the first five once again at a huge price. Won this in 2017 and was second in 2019. Recent seventh in Group 1 July Cup showed promise and he loves this track.

Campanelle

Won the Group 1 Prix Morny here last year and her American trainer has an outstanding record when sending fillies to Europe. Won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on a disqualification but the first two horses were a long way clear of the rest and the form looks solid. That was her first run since last November and she can be expected to have improved again.

Glen Shiel

Was campaigned over much further when trained in France and has been reinvented as a sprinter by new trainer. Won last season’s Champions Sprint at Ascot under Hollie Doyle and a leading player if the ground is soft.

Kinross

A confirmed soft ground performer who finished fast to win over 1,400 metres at Group 2 level at Goodwood last week. If the rain arrives he has place prospects but may not have quite enough class for this assignment against top sprinters.

Laws Of Indices

Not far off the best two-year-olds in Ireland last season, he ran with promise on his reappearance over 1,400 metres behind future Group 1 winner Poetic Flare. Another good run dropped to 1,200 metres was followed by a disappointment in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on heavy ground. Sprang a surprise when winning Group 1 Prix Jean Prat over 1,400 metres last time but course form means he must have a leading chance.

Lope Y Fernandez

Produced two of his best career performances on this track in 2020 when finishing second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat over 1,400 metres and then a close third in this race four weeks later. He needs to recapture that form to figure and has been slightly disappointing since.

Marianafoot

Has climbed the ladder slowly and surely, compiling a sequence of seven straight wins stretching back to December, including a pair of Group 3 wins at Longchamp. Deserves his chance in Group 1 company but unproven at this level.

Ocean

Earned the right to run here with a gutsy Group 3 win over the track four weeks ago. It would require another big step forward to get involved here.

Rohaan

Three-year-old gelding who has risen through the ranks after starting off in a much lower grade. Defeat of subsequent Group 1 performer Dragon Symbol in heavy ground at Haydock reads well, though has to bounce back from finishing tenth in the July Cup on his first try at Group 1 level.

Starman

Looks the best sprinter in Britain on the evidence of five wins from six starts, notably his impressive come-from-behind success in the Group 1 July Cup. Soft ground would pose a question mark against him but he has outstanding claims.

Thunder Moon

Top two-year-old in Ireland last season but disappointed badly in both the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes over 1,600 metres. Bounced back to form when just beaten here in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat over 1,400 metres and must have place claims at least.

Tropbeau

Tough and speedy filly who cannot be entirely ruled out but whose best form appears to be at Longchamp. Surprisingly her highly-decorated trainer has never won this race.

Prix Maurice de Gheest S1 - 2, 08/08/2021, Sunday Post Time 21:50