Three Questions: Olivier Peslier

The top French jockey has picked up the plum ride on the second favourite Harbinger in this afternoon's main event

1 What did you learn about Harbinger when you rode him for Sir Michael Stoute for the first time on the Newmarket gallops a week ago?

He impressed me and the feeling he gave me was that he is certainly out of the top drawer. We went with a lead horse over a mile and he seems straightforward to ride, the sort that could be put anywhere in the race. He won well at Ascot last time [in the Hardwicke Stakes at the royal meeting last month], so he knows the track.

2 Give us the lowdown on the French challenger, the Alain du Royer-Dupré-trained Daryakana.

I think she will run very well. She finished very well in third last time at Saint-Cloud [in the Group One Grand Prix, beaten narrowly by Plumania and Youmzain, who renews rivalry today] when I won the race. There was not much pace that day, which would not have suited her.

3 Away from your day job, your great love is the rather quirky activity of paintball. What is the appeal?

It's exciting and great fun to play with friends. You have to move well, have quick reactions and be able to make quick decisions, very good practice, in fact, for a jockey. I do play golf, like many jockeys, but I need to have fun when I play a sport and golf is sometimes too serious.