Muhaarar set to relish conditions in France

Charlie Hills believes the six-and-a-half-furlong trip in Sunday's Prix Maurice de Gheest should suit Muhaarar down to the ground.

Victory in the Deauville Group One will go a long way to securing the title of champion sprinter for the three-year-old following wins at the highest level in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.

"I am pleased with how Muhaarar is," said Hills.

"If rain did come it wouldn't be a problem as he has won on heavy ground and has a slightly rounded action.

"Six and a half furlongs, I think, will be his ideal trip.

"He is very athletic and does not look like sprinter. When you looked at him in the paddock at Newmarket he looked quite immature compared to some.

"I wouldn't swap him."

Another in the race with recent Group One form is Andre Fabre's five-year-old mare Esoterique, who gave Solow most to do in the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile when she was last seen.

"We want to see her over the shorter distance. It will be interesting to see how she performs," said Fabre.

"She ran a very good race at Ascot, but we feel, even though she has won over the distance, a mile stretches her a little bit.

"She could go back to a mile in the future, but we want to try this distance, just to see."

The globetrotting Gordon Lord Byron is back for another assault on the race, having finished third two years ago behind Moonlight Cloud.

Second last time out to another speedy three-year-old in Home Of The Brave, trainer Tom Hogan believes there is more than just Muhaarar to worry about.

"He was giving the winner a bit of weight the last day and he couldn't get any traction on the ground, it was like he was stuck in third gear," said Hogan.

"The ground should be fine in France, though, and he likes flat tracks like this and Haydock, the trip and track are fine.

"Andre Fabre's is a good filly and if Noozhoh Canarias ever learned to settle he'd be a threat, so it's not just Muhaarar we have to beat.

"He'll possibly go straight on to Haydock (Sprint Cup) after this.

"We're always happy to run in the big races, some days we pick up a lot of prize-money and other days not so much."

Fellow Irish raider Majestic Queen has her second outing for Godolphin, while Richard Hannon's Ivawood, third in the 2000 Guineas and the Irish equivalent, adds further lustre.

David O'Meara's Watchable and Coulsty, a stablemate of Ivawood, have also been declared a 12-strong list.