Prix Jacques le Marois could be a race to savour

There’s a strong Irish contingent among 12 horses left in at today’s forfeit stage for Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

Poetic Flare may bid for a third Group 1 win of the campaign having already captured the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, and Jim Bolger has also left in Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney.

Jessica Harrington’s Alpine Star is likely to be all the better for her recent seasonal reappearance at York and could attempt to go one better than when second in this race last year, while 1,000 Guineas winner and Prix du Rothschild heroine Mother Earth is a possible runner for Aidan O’Brien along with stablemate Order Of Australia.

Last year’s winner Palace Pier, beaten only once in nine career starts, is on course to defend his crown having missed last month’s Sussex Stakes due to a blood disorder.

The Kingman colt has twice been successful at the highest level already this season after victories in the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

Andre Fabre has last year's French 2,000 Guineas winner Victor Ludorum amongst those remaining and said of the Shamardal colt: “He’s going to run, he won nicely last time and if the ground dries up that will help him."

“It will have helped his confidence winning last time out. I’m quite confident he’s going to run well.

“I haven’t been that impressed by the three-year-old generation this season, to be honest — so I think Palace Pier remains the one to beat.

“I know Jim Bolger really likes his horse, but he’s a bit up and down. On his good days he is very good, he was very impressive at Royal Ascot but he has obviously been beaten a few times, too.

“Because of that I think Palace Pier sets the standard to aim at.”

Last Sunday’s Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Marianafoot was amongst those taken out, along with William Haggas’ rising star Baaeed.

The latest prices from Paddy Power are as follows: 4-5 Palace Pier, 4 Poetic Flare, 13-2 Alpine Star, 10 Victor Ludorum, 12 Mac Swiney, Mother Earth, 16 Chindit, Midtown, 20 Ecrivain, Order Of Australia, 40 Millebosc, 50 Colosseo.