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Westover aiming to emulate Alpinista in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

Westover will have the assistance of a pacemaker in his bid for Group 1 glory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

WESTOVER winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)
WESTOVER winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The four-year-old has not scored at the top level since his Irish Derby success in June last year and connections will be hoping the Juddmonte-owned colt can get back to winning ways.

He produced a solid effort when second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Epsom Downs but had no answer for the impressive winner Emily Upjohn.

"He looks well and I'm happy with him – he's ready to go again," said trainer Ralph Beckett

"We didn't want to get caught back on a slow gallop, so that's what he [Malabu Drive] is there for and Dougie Costello will ride him.

"Saint-Cloud is a very fair track and a galloping track, which is obviously a positive for Westover.

"I think we might have gone a different route if he'd won the Coronation Cup – I was always quite keen to drop him back to 10 furlongs for the Eclipse if that had happened, but it didn't, so we're going to Paris instead.

"With a pacemaker to ensure a nice, even gallop, that will not only help the pace of the race, it will give Westover something to aim at, so that will help as well."

The Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud has been a happy hunting ground for international raiders in recent years, with British and Irish trainers securing three of the last four renewals of the race. It was successfully used as a stepping stone to Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory by Alpinista last year.

Westover finished a good sixth in the 'Arc' last year and he holds an entry for the Autumn showpiece but trainer Ralph Beckett is focused on immediate targets.

"I don't have a strong view about what happens after Saturday, it's only Saturday I'm concentrating on at the moment."


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