Inns Of Court bids for Palais-Royal verdict

G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains sixth Inns Of Court takes a drop in class and trip for the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal (16.20hrs local time) at Maisons-Laffitte, France, on Saturday, June 3. 

The Andre Fabre-trained son of Invincible Spirit briefly led the field in the mile Classic at Chantilly on May 14 before fading in the closing stages to go down by nine and a half lengths in total. 

The three-year-old colt was previously unbeaten in two appearances, both over seven furlongs. He followed up a cosy length success in a maiden on Polytrack at Chantilly in November with a comfortable turf victory in a conditions race at Saint-Cloud in April. 

Inns Of Court, the only three-year-old in the Prix du Palais-Royal field, takes on seven rivals including Karar and Spectre, who have both finished second at G1 level, plus last year’s winner Attendu. He is drawn seven and ridden again by Michael Barzalona.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Inns Of Court had a problem in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, when his saddle slipped, and we also feel that he might not quite see out a mile.

“Hopefully, the drop back to seven furlongs will suit and he receives weight from the rest of the field, so this is a very logical race for him. 

“This should be a good pointer for the rest of his programme this year.”