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Triple Time ready to topple Inspiral's bid for back-to-back Jacques le Marois's

Kevin Ryan's Triple Time will be hoping to make it two top-level victories on the bounce by landing the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

TRIPLE TIME winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in England
TRIPLE TIME winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in England Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Triple Time returned from a lengthy absence with a shock narrow victory over the reopposing Inspiral in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

The lightly-raced four-year-old pulled hard in the early stages but showed a willing attitude under Neil Callan and trainer Kevin Ryan is happy with his colt ahead of the rematch.

He said: "Triple Time has had a nice bit of time between Ascot and now."

"We've had a lovely clear run with him. He's working nicely and we're delighted with him going into the race."

Ryan will be double-handed in the Group 1 mile contest on the Normandy coast as Triple Time's stablemate, Hi Royal, steps back up in trip having finished well-held over seven furlongs in the Prix Jean Prat last time.

Hi Royal placed in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas and will sport cheekpieces for the first time.

The Hambleton Lodge-based handler added: "The race didn't pan out for him the last day."

"He missed the break and when cutting back to seven furlongs he couldn't afford to do that."

"He's back up to a mile and I'm very happy with him going into the race."  

Inspiral bounced back from a disappointing effort in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last year to land this prize, and connections will be hoping a trip to France produces a similar performance after she finished well-beaten on soft ground in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Testing conditions were to blame for her disappointment at Goodwood just eleven days ago and Inspiral will likely face quicker ground at Deauville as she attempts to give Clarehaven stables a staggering fourth-straight success in the France Group 1.

Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, said: "Goodwood was a sort of disappointment having been the target, but with the ground conditions she just didn't relish that at all."

"Frankie [Dettori] made his move to come to the rail and his injection of pick-up was short-lived in those conditions.

"Conditions in France look to have dried up. There is a chance of a few showers, but John and Thady Gosden were happy with her after her race at Goodwood and Mrs Thompson is happy to let her go back to France for another chance at the Jacques le Marois.

"Her finest hour after Royal Ascot came there last year."

Some of Inspiral's best performances have come on the back of lengthy layoffs but connections appear to have few concerns about the short eleven-day turnaround.

"I think John and Thady were happy with the fact Frankie was kind to her once her chance was gone at Goodwood."

"Of course, there is always a slight concern [about the quick turnaround], but we know she's talented, she's only had two races this year and they tell me she's in a good place."

"There should be plenty of pace and we will let the filly do the talking. It will be nice to see her back out again and we just don't know how the autumn is going to unfold."

"Going forward you have races like the Matron Stakes and others to consider, but you just don't know what conditions are going to be. She was kept in training to race on and that's where we are at this point."

Although the home contingent has only won the Group 1 mile three times in the last ten years there does look to be every chance of prize remaining on French soil this time around.

Christopher Head's Big Rock only found just top-class middle-distance colt Ace Impact too strong in the Prix du Jockey Club last-time-out and will seemingly be suited by dropping back to the mile, while Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess cannot be left out of calculations.

On Big Rock's chances, Head said: "He is in good form, and we are pretty optimistic about his run in the Jacques le Marois."

"He has been working well and we are looking forward to having another Group 1 run with him.

"He takes his racing very well and is a very nice horse."

Big Rock currently heads the betting at 5/2 with Paddy Power with Triple Time a 7/2 chance to land the French Group 1 and Inspiral 11/2 to make it back-to-back victories in the race.

 


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