Jordan Yates' Sunday Deauville Preview. (05/08/2018)

The fascinating contest that is the Prix Maurice de Gheest takes place at Deauville this Sunday and as ever it's attracted a whole host of classy sprinters from around Europe who set to lock horns over 6 furlongs and around 110 yards.

The popular Brando just about heads affairs for Kevin Ryan in attempt to retain his crown from last year's win in the race and he just edges favourtism. In a lot of places however he is joined at the top of the market by the in form City Light who's the mount of Christophe Soumillon. City Light comes here off the back of just being narrowly denied in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot and looks a big player here with the Champion Jockey on board. These two are trading at around 6/1 respectively.

Freddy Head saddles two representatives to go to war with here and these come in the form of Polydream and Efaadah (12/1). The more favoured of the two looks to be Polydream as he sits more prominently in the market at around the 7/1 mark and is the mount of Maxime Guyon, he bounced back to form the last day with a win in Group 3 company and looks a live contender. Another popular UK raider who looks set to take his chance is none other than The Tin Man for James Fanshawe, a fine servant to the sprinting division over the years and he's shown this season that's there is certainly a lot left in the locker. He reappeared this season with a tough victory in Listed Company at Windsor before finishing a solid fourth in the Diamond Jubilee. He's trading at a general 8/1 and the partnership with Tom Queally is once again reunited.

The Godolphin challenge here comes in the form Wootton, Inns Of Court (11/1) and D'bai (33/1). Wootton is the one who currently trades at the shortest of prices of the trio at a general 9/1 and he comes here off the back of a third placed effort in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He's only ever raced over a mile so will have to prove that he can adapt to this step down in distance but if he does he could well be a player and is the choice of William Buick.

Ballydoyle don't have the strongest of hands in this year's renewal as you might expect however this is probably down to the issue's that they currently have in the O'Brien yard at the moment. That being said you'd be a fool to write any of their contenders off though and they are none other than Fleet Review (16/1) the mount of Ryan Moore, Actress (80/1) for Wayne Lordan and Intelligence Cross (100/1) for Padraig Beggy.

Other runners to note here from what looks a very strong UK challenge look to come in the form of Sands Of Mali for Richard Fahey who comes here on somewhat of a recovery mission from a rare below par run at Royal Ascot. James Garfield represents George Scott and is also the mount of Frankie Dettori and Cheveley Park Stud have a couple of runners said to take their chances in the form of Unfortunately for Karl Burke and Larchmont Lad for David O'Meara

VERDICT: A very tough race to call as it's extremely competitive but i'm going to just side with WOOTTON. If handling the step down in trip I think he could be a big player here as he'll have no issues with the ground as he has solid form on anything from Heavy to Good. He's probably worth an each way play at a decent enough price.

WOOTTON - (9/1) (E/W)