Jim Bolger has revealed that Poetic Flare will take on Palace Pier in a fascinating face-off in Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
The winner of the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes came unstuck on the soft ground at Glorious Goodwood last month when runner-up to Alcohol Free in the Sussex Stakes.
Palace Pier bypassed the race after he took time to recover from a blood disorder – but now the clash is back on at the new location.
“It was the ground that beat us that day,” Bolger said about Goodwood. “He goes to Deauville on Sunday.
“The ground did not look that bad at Deauville last Sunday in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. I don’t know what is running but we are.”
Palace Pier is the 5-6 favourite with Ladbrokes to repeat last year’s success in the Group 1 over a mile. Poetic Flare is next best in the market at 100-30.
This season Palace Pier has not missed a beat winning all three races.
Bolger also had news of his Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney.
“He goes to York for the Juddmonte,” said the Co Carlow trainer. “He did not stay in the English and Irish Derby.
This will be only the second time Mac Swiney has tackled the 10-furlong trip of the Juddmonte that takes place on August 18.
“He was not right when he ran over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown in the Derrinstown (fourth behind Bolshoi Ballet),” added the 86-year-old trainer.
Mac Swiney is very much the forgotten horse at 20-1 for the York headliner.
Coral-Eclipse winner St Mark's Basilica tops the market at evens with Mishriff, who was third behind him at Sandown, on 4-1.
