Kingman Deauville doubt due to ground

John Gosden is keeping a watching brief on the ground at Deauville and has yet to confirm Kingman a definite starter in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois.

The Newmarket trainer walked the course before his Western Hymn finished fourth behind Gailo Chop in Friday's Deauville highlight, the Group Two Prix Guillaume D'Ornano.

His concerns about the going for superstar miler Kingman grew after an inch of rain fell during Thursday night, and jockey William Buick reported the ground to be testing after partnering Western Hymn.

Gosden said: "It's pretty terrible ground and he (Western Hymn) didn't like it at all.

"I'm flying back to England this evening and I will be at Deauville tomorrow. I walked the track before racing today and will do the same tomorrow and again on Sunday, before deciding whether Kingman will run."

Kingman is scheduled to travel to France by ferry tonight. It is the second time he has raced outside the UK and on the other occasion he also travelled by ferry, for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Gosden's brilliant colt showed a blistering turn of foot to dispense with the classy Toronado when he took on older horses for the first time in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood less than three weeks ago.

Also the winner of the St James's Palace Stakes, Kingman faces another big test in the summer showpiece at the Normandy venue.

Speaking earlier in the day, Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "We're going to look at the ground, but provided it's all right he'll run. He came out of the Goodwood race very well and it's been very straightforward since.

"He's done everything good. He worked really well on Saturday. We couldn't be happier with him. This will be another test."

Kingman's big-race partner James Doyle is looking forward to getting back on board the son of Invincible Spirit.

"I haven't sat on him since Goodwood but I've seen him walk past me a couple of times with Rab Havlin on his back," said Abdullah's retained jockey.

"Rab rides him in all his work and it's a system that seems to work well, John seems to like it that way. Speaking to Rab and Mr Gosden they seem very happy with him."