RODERIC O'CONNOR SINKS FRENCH NAVY IN SAINT-CLOUD MUD

The great showdown between top French juvenile FRENCH NAVY (27) and RODERIC O'CONNOR (37) in the Group 1 Criterium International failed to materialise. For some reason French Navy just would not settle. He threw his head around wildly in the closing stages despite the strong early pace and failed to get home in the heavy ground.

I still see French Navy as a great Derby prospect for Godolphin next year. I'm happy to put this display down to a lack of experience.

Roderic O'Connor also showed signs of inexperience despite winning. He was clearly surprised when the field swung wide into the straight as they always do when it's very soft at Saint-Cloud. On seeing all that daylight either side of him he stuck his head right up in the air and eased himself up as if to say 'hey what's going on here'. He then dived for the safety of the stands running rail and consented to run at full speed again once he got there to score by a length and a half.

The clock suggests this run was a couple of lengths off Roderic O' Connor's effort when chasing home Frankel in the Dewhurst. That seems right as he probably lost a couple of lengths by easing himself up and swerving in these odd conditions.

Roderic O'Connor is clearly versatile as to ground conditions and is a top class horse. He gives Aiden O' Brien a serious shot of winning the Guineas and looks likely to stay a bit further too.