GOLIATH SCOOPS COUPE GLORY AT PARISLONGCHAMP

LAST season's King George hero Goliath made the most of having his sights lowered with a comprehensive victory in the La Coupe at ParisLongchamp.

- By BEN GIBSON

Francis-Henri Graffard's charge was a brilliant winner of Ascot's midsummer highlight in 2024, but returned to home soil with a point to prove having since failed to make his presence felt in either the Japan Cup in November or Hong Kong's QEII Cup in April.

Dropping down to Group Three level, the five-year-old was sent straight to the lead by Christophe Soumillon and while Grand Stars briefly loomed up as a threat early in the home straight, Goliath picked up again once challenged and was well on top at the line.

On the front-running tactics, Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: "We decided with Christophe that his two best races were when he jumped and not to fight with him. We decided to let him roll along on his own and let him be very comfortable and when he's like that he's a very good horse.