Archangel all set for Paris test Aidan O'Brien will be represented by Archangel Raphael in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Tuesday. The master of Ballydoyle landed the mile and a half Group One with Scorpion 10 years ago and with Imperial Monarch in 2012, and has high hopes for this son of Montjeu, who impressed when beating stablemate and subsequent winner Outspoken in good style at Fairyhouse recently. "He has just had the one run this year in a three-runner race at Fairyhouse which he won well," said O'Brien. "The step up to a mile and a half did not give him any problems. "He is a horse that has been progressing well at home." William Haggas feels there could be more improvement in Storm The Stars. Winner of the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in May, the three-year-old has since performed admirably in defeat in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, finishing third and second respectively. The son of Sea The Stars has had a busy season so far, with this his seventh outing of the campaign, but Haggas is confident his charge will run up to his best. "He behaved appallingly in his maiden at the Craven meeting, and ran accordingly, and I'd nearly given up hope with him," the Newmarket trainer told At The Races. "He then won a weak maiden at Leicester easily and has just got better and better. He thrives on his racing - that's why he's running. "It's very unlike me to run a horse six times in a season, never mind in a couple of months, but with each race he has improved and I hope he can do the same again. "I wouldn't have a clue what we'll do after this. "This was never on the agenda, but he came out of the Irish Derby very well and the owner put the idea in my mind - I hope it pays off for him." Storm The Stars is joined on the trip from Britain by David Simcock's Royal Ascot hero Balios. The Shamardal colt was a decisive winner of the King Edward VII Stakes and the form was boosted when the runner-up Mr Singh won the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last week. Simcock said: "It's a very tight, competitive field and we're looking forward to running him. "This was the obvious race to go for. He's a Group Two winner now so we need to step him up. "He handles fast ground well and we'll see how he goes."
