"I don’t think the performance of Silius should be underestimated and if there is a horse in this year’s Prix Altipan that is capable of making his mark at a higher level, it is him".

There are just one or two signs from the All-Weather cards that some of the better horses are stepping up their preparations for the season ahead. One such sign came in the final race on Friday nights card at Deauville in the Prix Priolo.

Green Spirit has an entry in the Prix Marcel Boussac and that is the obvious target for her next month.

If Maxime Guyon can get him into a good position behind the pace, he should have too much speed for his rivals.