With last week’s Arc action still fresh in the mind, it’s off to Chantilly on Saturday for a meeting which includes a brace of Listed races and the Gr.2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte. On Sunday, Auteuil proposes a host of good contests, a Listed chase and a Gr.3 hurdle topping the billing.

Restricted to 2 year-olds and run over 1200m, the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte has attracted a field of seven, two locals taking on five overseas raiders. Recent Listed winner, Shady Lady, heads the home defence, while Patrice Cottier’s Classic Flower is placed at Gr.2 and 3 level but was somewhat below-par in the Prix du Calvados last time out.

Karl Burke, however, sends over Gr.3 Prix Eclipse winner, Dawn Charger, who made up for her narrow defeat in the Gr.3 Prix d’Arenberg, and will be sent out clear favourite. The Irish Gaenari finished a well-beaten 4th in the Arenberg though and will have a tough task ahead of her. Respectively 3rd and 4th in the Gr.2 Mill Reef Stakes, there will again be little to separate Seven Questions and Spanish Phoenix. Although yet to get any black-type into her, Inishfallen is absolutely not to be ruled out.

Sunday’s G.3 Prix de Maisons-Laffitte hurdle (4yo, 3600m) is a useful prep race for next month’s G.1 Prix Renaud du Vivier (26 Nov.), recent winners including Hermès Baie, L’Autonomie, and Master Dino.

Losange Bleu, second in the G.1 Prix Alain du Breil earlier in the year, sandwiched between a pair of Willie Mullins’ runners, looks a serious proposition, although Whymper latterly picked up a Listed race over course and distance. 

Beaten on his chasing debut, Garde De Burge returns to hurdling with legitimate ambition, but Japon is the horse to watch. Impressive winner of both starts, 12 months separating them, he has the profile of a horse that can do well at Auteuil this autumn.