O`Brien`s strong hand for Paris

Aidan O`Brien, who swept the board last year by saddling the first three home, may have four runners in the final French group one race of the season, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in Paris, on Saturday.

O`Brien`s acceptors at yesterday`s first forfeit stage for the mile-and-quarter contest were Alberto Giacometti, Cougar, Delacroix, Powerscourt and The Great Gatsby.

There are also four probable British trained juveniles in the big race. They are Bugatti Royale (Paul Cole), Excelsius (John Dunlop), Our Teddy (George Margarson) and Summerland (John Gosden).

Meanwhile Martin Pipe`s Bounce Back heads the ante-post betting for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 30th.

The six-year-old won the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown on his final start last season and he has been given 10st 8lb for the extended three mile and two furlong contest.

Bacchanal has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb, 2lb more than Foxchapel King who is next on the list with 11st 10lb.

Henrietta Knight`s Lord Noelie (11st 9lb), Martin Pipe`s Shooting Light (11st 8lb), Philp Hobbs` What`s Up Boys and Henry Daly`s Behrajan (both 11st 7lb) are at the top end of the weights.

Last Saturday`s Charlie Hall Chase winner, the Sir Robert Ogden-owned Marlborough, has been allotted 11st 6lb, while the same owner`s Kingsmark (11st 4lb) and Ad Hoc (10st 6lb) are also in the line-up.

Although Ogden has those three possible runners, his racing manager Barry Simpson said yesterday: 'I suppose a lot depends upon what`s going to run at the top. My knee-jerk reaction would be that if the ground was heavy and he was not top weight, Kingsmark might run.'

Other notable contenders include Hughie Morrison`s Frenchman`s Creek, an impressive winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season, who has 10st 9lb.

Nigel Twiston-Davies` Grand National winner Bindaree has 10st 8lb, along with the Pipe trio of Iznogoud, Bounce Back and Take Control.

GOLD CUP BETTING: 7-1 Bounce Back, 10-1 Frenchman`s Creek, Gunther McBride, 12-1 Carbury Cross, Gingembre, Hussard Collonges, Iznogoud, 14-1 Behrajan, Harbour Pilot, Marlborough, What`s Up Boys, 16-1 Chives, Poliantas, Whitenzo, 20-1 bar.