GORDON Lord Byron has the 85th outing of his career in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

Tom Hogan's 10-year-old remains remarkably versatile and consistent, having run over a mile in Qatar last time out.

"He was a little bit unlucky in Doha, he got pushed out wide otherwise he would have been even closer than fourth," said Hogan.

"The ground is coming right for him, he needs a bit of decent ground these days.

"He's showing all his old enthusiasm at home and is going there in great form.

"This will be his 63rd stakes run and I reckon that must be some sort of record - he's taken us all over the world and it's been some journey."

Aidan O'Brien's Spirit Of Valor is the other Irish-trained runner, while Andre Fabre feels the Abernant is the perfect place to get Le Brivido's season under way.

The master French trainer was left frustrated last year because after winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, a series of little setbacks prevented the Siyouni colt from running again.

In the off-season, Coolmore bought a part-share in the unexposed four-year-old, who will be having just the fifth run of his career.

"He's not a sprinter, but six furlongs at Newmarket is a good prep for going further," said Fabre.

"I think he's going to be at his best over seven furlongs, but he's got speed enough to be competitive over this trip.

"There simply aren't many options over seven furlongs so this looked a good race to run him in with no penalty, on good ground and a nice course.

"He is in the Lockinge and we'll decide after this if Newbury will be the plan. I think it is better to run him over shorter than further (than his best trip) to begin with."

Last year's winner Brando goes for Kevin Ryan, having had a wind operation since he last ran, but he did land the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest last year, for which he escapes a penalty.

"He's in good form and everything has gone well with him," said Ryan.

"The ground should be perfect and he's got good course form, so it looked the obvious place to start with him."