“ALMERIC is a smart horse. He’s not in the Derby, but he’s in the French Derby and a host of others. I think the plan would be to go to the Dante before a crack at the Prix du Jockey Club.”

These were the words of trainer Andrew Balding after the three-year-old son of Study Of Man (Deep Impact) won the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket back in mid-April. Beaten just two lengths when fourth in a Sandown maiden on his debut at two, Almeric came out three weeks later to score in a mile maiden at York, and was put away for the winter. His listed win came on his three-year-old bow.