RACING: REMARKABLE WEEK of Irish success at Royal Ascot could wind up today with a distinctly Gallic flourish as Marchand d'Or attempts to secure Group One glory in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
A truly international field of 20 includes the Australian hero Takeover Target and Seachange from New Zealand, as well as a quartet of Irish-trained runners headed by Johnny Murtagh's mount US Ranger.
He is joined by his Greenlands Stakes-winning stable companion Astronomer Royal, as well as Snaefell from Michael Halford's yard and last year's top flight two-year-old Myboycharlie from Tommy Stack's stable.
The Prix Morny winner could be a springer in the market if there is any ease in ground conditions because he was palpably ill at ease on the firm going in use for the Greenlands.
However, in a contest where the main home hope, Sakhee's Secret, boasts an outstanding win in last year's July Cup, there are still sound reasons for believing the French will get on top.
Certainly if Marchand D'or can emerge best it will be a sweet moment for his trainer, Freddie Head, the former multiple French champion jockey whose forays to Britain as a rider often ended in repeated savagings by cross-channel media.
Davy Bonilla is in the hot-seat this afternoon and he is comparatively inexperienced at Ascot. However, in Marchand D'or both Bonilla and Head look to have a horse at the peak of his form.
Certainly his Prix du Gros-Chene victory at Chantilly last time was the best he has ever done over five furlongs and it was a commendable effort at the time since he missed the break. However, Equiano's win in the Kings Stand here on Tuesday makes it look an ever better performance.
Effective at up to seven furlongs, the five-year-old should be completely at home over today's stiff six furlongs and a 12 draw will give Bonilla options from the start.
US Ranger has flattered only to deceive more than once during his career so Takeover Target could be the main danger in what has already been a significant international week in the Group One prizes.
Macarthur will be a popular fancy to land the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes for the Ballydoyle team and the form of his third to Soldier Of Fortune and Youmazin in the Coronation Cup certainly reads very well in the context of today's race.
However, the one-time Derby favourite had a very hard race that day from the front and there could be value in Multidimensional, who finished well behind Macarthur at Epsom. Henry Cecil's highly rated five-year-old didn't ever look happy at Epsom but significantly, the legendary trainer gives him another crack at a mile and a half.
BRIAN O'CONNOR'S TIPS
2.30, Free Agent; 3.05, Multidimensional; 3.45, Marchand d'Or; 4.25, Beaver Patrol; 5.00, Camps Bay; 5.35, Caracciola.
