Byron handed Foret bid

Gordon Lord Byron is to run in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp after being supplemented for Sunday's Group One contest.

Trainer Tom Hogan revealed that it was jockey William Buick who suggested they targeted that race.

Gordon Lord Byron had alternative engagements in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot on Saturday and the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on Sunday.

Connections have plumped for the French contest for the four-year-old, who was runner-up to Society Rock in the Betfred Sprint Cup on his latest start when ridden by Richard Kingscote.

However, it is Buick, who steered the gelding to victory in a Listed race over seven furlongs at York in August, who takes the mount in Paris.

Hogan said: "He's in very good form and we feel it might not be as strong a race as the Ascot Group Three on Saturday, so why not? The Foret is a Group One.

"William Buick rides him. He advised me to supplement him for that race and he said this horse would be suited to it."

Also among 13 left in the race is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Starspangledbanner as well as three British hopefuls in the shape of Clive Cox's Hungerford scorer Lethal Force, David O'Meara's Penitent, winner of the Joel Stakes at Newmarket last week, and Pintura from Kevin Ryan's stable.

The home challenge is headed by Mashoora, trained by Jean Claude-Rouget, and third in the Prix Rothschild last time.