Now back over his ideal trip of 7f, One Master looks worth siding with to land back-to-back runnings of the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Sunday (17:05).
This William Haggas trained four-year-old swooped late to get up close home and beat Inns Of Court by a short-head in this 12 months ago.
He was officially rated 105 at the time, but is now off a mark of 112 having posted some cracking efforts in top class contests this season.
After finishing a promising fourth in a Group 2 at The Curragh on seasonal reappearance, One Master ran a blinder when a length third of 15 to Lord Glitters in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1m at Royal Ascot.
He looked all over the winner when taking up the running approaching the final furlong, but then wandered under pressure and weakened close home.
It was a similar scenario next time up in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, again over 1m, where he travelled like much the best horse in the race before being beat just a neck by a tenacious Veracious.
One Master then caught the eye last time out over an extended 6f at Deauville when keeping on nicely to finish a never nearer 1 3/4 lengths fifth of 15 to Advertise in the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest.
The form of those races read well in relation to this. One Master is a real 7f specialist who has proven form on the forecast ground.
So, now that he has his optimum conditions for the first time this season, he looks decent value at 13/2 with Paddy Power to retain his Prix de la Foret crown under last year’s winning rider Pierre-Charles Boudout.
City Light worth taking on
The betting is headed by City Light, who is better known as a sprinter, at 5/2 with Betfair on the back of two taking successes.
This five-year-old colt almost provided his trainer Stephane Wattel with a 30-year wait for a Group 1 winner when beaten just a short-head by Merchant Of Venice in the 2018 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was also far from disgraced in this year’s renewal of that 6f contest when ninth of 17 to superstar sprinter Blue Point.
City Light hs since landed an extended 6f contest at Deauville by 3 1/2 length,s before following-up in a Group 3 over course and distance when quickening up very smartly to beat Graignes by 1 1/2 lengths.
The son of Siyouni got the job done with the minimum of fuss and was value for much more than the winning margin.
He has nothing to fear from the re-opposing runner-up, who himself has some smart for in the book, and a bold bid to land the hat-trick looks assured.
Whether City Light is entitled to be as short as he is in the betting, however, is another matter.
For that reason alone he looks worth taking on for all that his claims are glaringly obvious given his current rude health.
Glorious Journey appeals each-way
Glorious Journey impressed when scoring last time out, so – at 12/1 with Ladbrokes – appeals most from an each-way punting perspective.
This Charlie Applebty trained four-year-old was unbeaten in two runs as a juvenile and posted some smart efforts last year.
They included when ninth of 21 to Expert Eye in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over this distance at Royal Ascot and when fourth to Regal Reality in a similar grade affair at Goodwood.
Glorious Journey has had just five starts this season and ran very well on the third of those when beaten just a length by Dream Of Dreams in the Listed 6f Hamilton Stakes.
The son of Dubawi backed that up with a solid neck second to Limato in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over 7f at Newmarket.
Glorious Journey was was far from disgraced when a 5 3/4 lengths eighth of 12 to Ten Sovereigns in the July Cup over 6f at headquarters when going off far too hard.
He comes into this having travelled very strongly, before staying on well to beat Librisa Breeze in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over 7f at Newbury.
Glorious Journey had Safe Voyage, Sir Dancealot and Hey Gaman in-behind and has nothing to fear from that re-opposing trio.
He is also officially rated 114, the same as City Light, so there should arguably not be such a huge price differential between the pair.
Hence, at the odds on offer, Glorious Journey had to get our each-way vote and thus completes this 2019 Prix de la Foret preview.
