Head hoping for Marchand improvement

Freddie Head does not believe Marchand D’Or gave his true running at Royal Ascot and expects to see a much-improved performance in tomorrow’s Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

The five-year-old grey, who has won the last two renewals of the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, has never had much luck on his forays to England.

He finished fourth behind Sakhee’s Secret in this event last year and was second in the Sprint Cup at Haydock behind Red Clubs in soft ground – conditions which bring out the best in him.

“I was very pleased to see the rain at Newmarket yesterday,” said Head.

“The Golden Jubilee was a very funny race. He was very keen early on and then he got bumped. Sakhee’s Secret got very badly hampered and he touched my horse. He’s a bit funny now in his old age and he doesn’t like that.

“He went back to last almost but then at the end he was running on again, I don’t think he ran his race. It was a funny race, the first five home were drawn one to five and he was sixth.

“He ran very well in this race last year and I think he is a better horse this year. His run in the Prix du Gros-Chene was top-class form. He was giving weight away and beat the winner of the King’s Stand.

“If he is in similar form tomorrow he should go very close.”