Beacon Rock among Grand Prix de Paris field Aidan O'Brien's Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris team has been reduced to just Beacon Rock after Shogun was declared a non-runner. Beacon Rock makes his first start since his fine runner-up finish in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in Thursday's showpiece at Saint-Cloud. Ed Dunlop is hoping Red Verdon is blessed with more luck than he has had in his last two races when he makes the trip across to France. Connections have great faith in the Ronnie Arculli-owned colt, having now supplemented him for his last three races. He was added to the field for the Investec Derby at a cost of 75,000 pounds and to the Irish Derby for E100,000. Though he ran well in both races, things did not go his way and he looked better than the bare results of his sixth at Epsom and fourth at the Curragh suggest. The owner has again had to dig into his pocket to stump up the necessary E43,200 but Dunlop will go to France with his optimism undiminished. "We're looking forward to going to Paris. Apparently they've had lots of rain on Tuesday night," said the Newmarket trainer. "The horse arrived safely and all is well. "He didn't get the rub of the green in the Derby and was too far back in the Irish Derby. It's a nine-runner field, we'll see how we go." Godolphin have a strong hand with two runners, Cloth Of Stars and Talismanic, both trained by Andre Fabre. Cloth Of Stars made a bright start to the campaign with two wins on this course, but disappointed in the Derby when only eighth to Harzand. "Cloth Of Stars is having his first run since the Derby, so is on a bit of a recovery mission," Fabre told www.godolphin.com. "He appears outwardly to have recovered well and his work has been good. This is only his second try over 12 furlongs and his last try in the Derby was inconclusive. "He goes on any type of ground so should not be inconvenienced if the thunderstorms materialise." After being successful over this mile and a half in May, Talismanic was a respectable fourth to Almanzor in the French Derby but would have appreciated cut in the ground. "Talismanic ran a brave race in the Jockey Club, and he is a lovely horse with a very genuine attitude," said Fabre. "He is best served by cut in the ground so if it rains heavily he will not be inconvenienced. "He is in great form and while he hasn't quite shown himself up to this level just yet, he should run well." Fabre also saddles the twice-raced Maniaco for the Wertheimer brothers.
