ONLY four horses, including a supplement, lined up for last Tuesday’s Prix de Guiche at Chantilly. The classic trial provided and easy win for Almanzor and Christophe Soumillon who made all and spent most of the last 300 metres either looking over his shoulder or between his legs for a non existent challenger.

Eased before the finish, the son of Wootton Bassett was giving Jean-Claude Rouget his fourth Guiche victory in the past seven years.

The Pau-based trainer said: “Now he has won this Group 3 race, he will have a good chance in the Jockey Club. Christophe was very happy and told me that there was a lot in reserve and the colt could go faster.” The last horse to land the Guiche/Jockey Club double was Lawman back in 2007.

Solow sick-listed

SADLY France’s top gelding Solow is still on the sick list after knocking a hind leg while being prepared for a trip to Dubai in March. He will miss the chance of landing back to back wins in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and will rest at the Wertheimer’s Haras de Saint-Leonard in Normandy where he will remain until making a full recovery.