Mountain can tower over Paris rivals

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien sent out Scorpion to win the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris in 2005 with after she was placed in the Irish Derby. On Saturday evening at Longchamp the Tipperary-based handler can repeat the dose with Eagle Mountain, who makes plenty of appeal at 5/2 with Ladbrokes. Although those that had backed the son of Rock Of Gibraltar at short odds for the Budweiser-sponsored Irish Classic on July 1 will have been disappointed that the colt could only finish third to stablemate Soldier Of Fortune, he can be forgiven that effort as the going turned against him that day. Indeed, it was sort, heavy in places at The Curragh and, as a result, Eagle Mountain was easy to back on course with his trainer indicating that ensuing conditions were cause for concern. Consequently, it wasn't a bad effort on Eagle Mountain's part, and he is well worth another chance on Saturday. Conditions in Paris will be ideal for the selection who is at his best on genuine good ground. Although he faces two very smart colts in Airmail Special and Zambezi Sun, his performance when charging home to be runner-up to Authorized in the Epsom Derby marks him out as a colt out of the top-drawer. He can incontrovertibly prove as much this weekend. Zambezi Sun gave the strong impression that stepping up to the 12-furlong trip of this race would prove ideal when staying on strongly to finish just under two lengths fourth to Lawman in the French Derby at Chantilly last month. Lawman franked the form in good style in the Prix Jean Prat subsequently, so Pascal Bary's charge comes into this race with strong form claims. It's hard to separate him and Airmail Special, whom he narrowly outpointed over a mile and a quarter under testing conditions here in April. The latter is improving with every race and won with more in hand than the short-neck winning margin suggests in a Group 3 over this course and distance last time. Airmail Special's trainer Andre Fabre usually runs his best middle-distance three-year-old colt in this race - he has won it in recent seasons with subsequent Arc winners Rail Link and Subotica - so the son of Peintre Celebre has to be respected. However, all his racing has been on going soft or slower, so he may be found wanting for pace against Eagle Mountain on this occasion. Verdict: 2pts Eagle Mountain @ 5/2 (Ladbrokes)