Saint-Cloud Sunday

3.40 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 1m 4f

Just as he did when he came under starter’s orders in this race 12 months ago, Calandagan has a question to answer when he tries to make it back-to-back Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud triumphs at Saint-Cloud tomorrow.

In 2025, the doubts concerned his resolution, following four consecutive second places at the top level, but he answered them emphatically, first by winning this event by a comfortable three and a half lengths from Aventure, then by following up in four of the world’s biggest races, twice at Ascot, once in Tokyo and once at Meydan.

Now he needs to prove that his latest, uncharacteristically lacklustre display, when a tailed off fourth in the Coronation Cup, was simply down to a combination of soft ground and Epsom’s unique configuration.

Having tipped against Calandagan at long odds-on last year, I am not going to make the same mistake twice and, with fast ground pretty much guaranteed, I fully expect Francis Graffard’s Gleneagles gelding to bounce back with an authoritative victory.

The solitary Irish runner in a field of eight is Aidan O’Brien’s English and Irish Derby hero, Lambourn, who responded well to the application of cheekpieces on his seasonal debut, with a game front-running Group 2 win at Chester two months ago.

He has twice run poorly since then and even a repeat of his Chester form is unlikely to see him prevail in this company.

Ralph Beckett’s lightly-raced York specialist, Pride Of Arras, is an interesting candidate on his return from a long lay-off, while Aventure should post her usual solid effort on the back of gaining a three-quarters of a length verdict over another member of this field, Sunly, in the Group 2 Prix Corrida.

But, if there is one horse in the line-up who could give a peak-form Calandagan a run for his money, it is likely to be last season’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris victor, Leffard, who should relish this return to a mile and a half after two commendable recent second places over shorter.

SELECTION: CALANDAGAN

Next Best: Leffard