Racing: Shamardal back on course at Longchamp

Godolphin's Shamardal will be out to redeem his reputation when he reverts to a turf surface in the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday.

Godolphin's Shamardal will be out to redeem his reputation when he reverts to a turf surface in the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday.

Last season's champion European two-year-old, when trained by Mark Johnston, flopped on the dirt in the UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba thus ruling out a trip to Churchill Downs for last weekend's Kentucky Derby. He is reported to having been working well back in Newmarket since his return.

The Giant's Causeway colt heads 12 raiders for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at yesterday's latest declaration stage. Shamardal's trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, also has Belenus in the field, but he is thought likely to wait for the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood next week.

Aidan O'Brien's all-conquering stable has the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas fourth, Oratorio, heading his three entries, which also include Cougar Cat and Dark Cheetah.

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 1,000 Guineas) has just 17 left in, headed by Divine Proportions. The eight-pronged foreign legion are headed by Barry Hills's Maids Causeway, runner-up in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas.