World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann is targeting Finals Day glory, with his flagbearer Hooking set for a second appearance at the Newcastle spectacular on Good Friday, April 18.
Hooking ranks among the leading players in the BetUK Easter Classic, having finished third behind Irish challenger Elegant Man in the 10-furlong contest 12 months ago.
The nine-year-old has maintained a strong level of form for trainer Philippe Decouz, winning the Grand Prix Riviera Cote d'Azur for a third time at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January and finishing third in another Listed race at the course last time out.
French raiders have a notable record on Finals Day with six winners from 28 runners, although they are yet to win the BetUK Easter Classic.
Decouz said: “Hooking is really in great form – actually, he is in the form of his life, even better than he was at this time last year.
“He was beaten last time out but the winner No Lunch is a top-class horse with remarkable ability for the all-weather.
“We were exceptionally well received at Newcastle last year. It was a great experience and that is what’s bringing us back.
“These big English handicaps have very good prize money, but the competition is incredibly strong. These are Group-level horses! But it is excellent fun and an interesting challenge.
“I hope we get a good draw, which will let us travel near the front of the field, and he will be ridden by Aurélien Lemaitre.”
Elegant Man’s trainer Adrian Murray will be represented again, with his team headed by Valiant Force in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap.
Winner of the G2 Norfolk Stakes as a juvenile, Valiant Force proved his stamina for a mile last time out with a dominant display in a conditions race at Dundalk.
The four-year-old had landed a six-furlong conditions race impressively at the same track in February and finished third in Southwell’s Listed BetUK Hever Sprint over five furlongs.
Murray said: “Valiant Force is very well. We are happy with his preparation and looking forward to getting him over there.
“We are aiming to campaign him over seven furlongs and a mile this year. He was very impressive the last day at Dundalk and this looks the route to go with him now.
“I think he has the potential to win a Group One, so he would want to be competitive off a mark of 108, otherwise he is not as good as we think he is.”
The trainer saddles Persian Bliss in the two-mile BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap and the unbeaten Titanium Emperor in the Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes, a Classic trial for three-year-olds over a mile.
Murray said: “Persian Bliss has done nothing wrong all winter, winning over a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half, and two miles. We ran him on the grass at Gowran the other day but the ground was easy enough for him, so switching back to the all-weather will suit.
“I think Titanium Emperor will probably take his chance in the Burradon Stakes. He is a nice horse and would go there with a live chance, although I think he could end up getting a bit further than a mile. We like him.”
