Desmond Stoneham

DEAUVILLE SATURDAY

12.20 PRIX DU BOIS (GROUP 3) 2YO 5F

The Irish-bred Rapacity Alexander could land this first French juvenile pattern event of the season. Trained by David Evans in Gwent and owned by Noel Callaghan, the Dandy Man filly has already made her mark in France by taking the Listed Prix La Fleche at Chantilly. She made every yard of the running and held on well to beat Sans Equivoque and Fixette, whose start was a little untidy.

They both take up the challenge again, as does sixth placed Cosachope, who was favourite for the Fleche. Gerald Mosse rides Rapacity Alexander on this occasion, as Mickael Barzalona will ride the Godolphin-owned Stratton Street for Andre Fabre. He is the only colt in the field of six and was the easy winner of a conditions race at Chantilly over this distance. The son of Street Cry has not been too clever at the start in his last two races. Vega Sicilia opened her account at Maisons-Laffitte and was then narrowly beaten at the same track when conceding weight.

Selection: RAPACITY ALEXANDER

Next best: Stratton Street

12.50 PRIX DE LA PORTE MAILLOT (GROUP 3) 3YO+ 7F

Jimmy Two Times is very much the form horse in this contest, which takes place on a straight track for the first time as Longchamp is closed for rebuilding. This colt was beaten by just a head in the Group 3 Prix Sigy by Quiet Reflection, who has since galloped away with the 188Bet Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park before reaching the pinnacle of her career with a win in the Group 1 Commonwealth Stakes at Royal Ascot. Jimmy Two Times has since landed the Listed Prix Marchand d’Or with something in reserve, after fading away to finish tenth to The Gurkha in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

Charlie Hills has booked jockey Olivier Peslier for Jalotta. The gelding was campaigned at Meydan earlier in the year and has since won a big handicap at York before finishing fourth in a listed event at the same track.

The ex-Irish Steip Amach is now under the care of David Smaga. She was trained by Jim Bolger when rallying to win the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown in May.

Selection: JIMMY TWO TIMES

Next best: Steip Amach

SAINT-CLOUD SUNDAY

1.55 PRIX DE MALLERET (GROUP 2) 3YO FILLIES 1M 4F

Jean-Claude Rouget could collect yet another important group race as he has supplemented Al Wathna into this event. She has been placed in both the Prix de la Seine and the Prix de Royaumont behind The Juliet Rose, who had a bad run in the Prix de Diane.

Andre Fabre runs Jollify and Impressionist. The former is held by Al Wathna on Royaumont form and Impressionist was another supplementary entry. She opened her account in a listed race at Compiegne and is also held by Al Wathna on form.

The Aga Khan’s Deremah is inexperienced having raced on just two occasions. She won first time out at Fontainebleau and was conceding weight when narrowly beaten at Chantilly.

Since winning her maiden, Mango Tango was defeated by five lengths in the Prix Cleopatre. Fee Du Hazard has never raced at a major track but has always finished in the first two in five races. Overall, this looks like a substandard and open Group 2 contest.

Selection: AL WATHNA

Next best: Deremah

3.15 GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD (GROUP 1) 4YO+ 1M 4F

John Gosden has never won this event but he does have an outstanding chance if Eagle Top can recover his form of last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he was touched off by a nose by Postponed. The five-year-old son of Pivotal has not been successful since taking the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2014. In his only race this season, Eagle Top was made favourite when fourth in the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury.

Alain de Royer-Dupre looks to have two leading chances of landing the Grand Prix with the Aga Khan’s Vazirabad and with One Foot In Heaven. One of the best stayers in Europe, Vazirabad has gone a long way since winning his maiden at Dieppe under a year ago. He ended last year with a victory over Siljan’s Saga in the Prix Royal-Oak at this track and has since picked up the Dubai Gold Cup and the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.

However, the gelding is coming back to a mile and a half after running exclusively (apart from his debut) over Cup distances.

The other ace in the hand of Royer-Dupre is One Foot In Heaven. His dam Pride won this race in 2006 and he is also a late developer. The son of Fastnet Rock beat Harlem in the Prix d’Hedouville and both Garlingari (gave 5lb) and Harlem in the Grand Prix de Chantilly.

Corine Barande-Barbe appears to have a budding Cirrus Des Aigles in the form of Garlingari. He was beaten by three-parts of a length at Chantilly, had previously won both the Prix Exbury and d’Harcourt, and finished third in the Prix Ganay.