Robin On Grand Prix Trail

Harry Dunlop's stable-star Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) will return to France for his next mission in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on Sunday. Having won the G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud at the same track as a 2-year-old back in 2015, Robin Of Navan only won for the first time since that victory when beating Garlingari (Fr) (Linngari {Ire}) in the G3 La Coupe Longines at Chantilly June 17. “He's come out of his last race well. It was great to see him break the track record at Chantilly and we will go and have a look at the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud,” reported Harry Dunlop on Sunday. The 4-year-old has only once run over a mile and a half when second to Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in a listed race at Kempton last year but Dunlop is hopeful the trip won't hold any fears for the colt who was only beaten a neck by Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly May 28. Dunlop is also hoping the proximity of the race to Royal Ascot may dilute the quality of the opposition. “Obviously he'll be stepping up to a mile and a half, but Cristian Demuro felt that he would get that. Hopefully it will be slightly weaker than some Group Ones. Some of the big guns ran at Ascot, so it might be a bit easier, but there are still some smart French horses in the race.” Regardless of what happens at the weekend Dunlop is proud of the €47,000 breeze up purchase's achievements to date and the journey he has brought him and the owners on. “He's amazing and he's one of those horses that has changed my life. I'm very lucky to have him,” he added.