Can King George winner Goliath warm up for Japan Cup tilt with Group 2 sucess at Longchamp?

Goliath makes his return to action at Longchamp on Sunday, almost three months after sweeping to a wildly impressive victory in Europe's midsummer highlight, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

An autumn slog on heavy ground with the threat of a false pace might not seem the ideal test ahead of his main end-of-season target, the Japan Cup, but trainer Francis Graffard has had his hand forced in some senses after Goliath missed his intended prep in the Preis von Europa at the end of last month because of a foot abscess.

That proved to be only a minor hiccup and Christophe Soumillon was back onboard the son of Adlerflug on Monday for a racecourse canter alongside Calandagan.

Set to race for the first time in new part-owner John Stewart's Resolute Racing silks, Goliath seemed to really appreciate the strong pace set by the Aidan O'Brien-trained runners in a King George run on ground officially given as good to firm.

While he seems likely to face a very different test in this Group 2 in which he must concede 4lb to his five rivals, Graffard feels match practice is important before he is sent to take on the best in Japan – as well as renew rivalry with Auguste Rodin – in Tokyo on November 24.

"Goliath is in good form and I really need to go back to the races with him," said Graffard. "I hope the very testing ground won't make life too hard on him but I'm keen to get him back on track as part of his preparation for the Japan Cup."

Tom Marquand makes the trip over to Longchamp to partner Hamish, whose eight stakes-race wins have all come at Group 3 level, a sequence which stretches back to the September Stakes of 2021.

Hamish battles to another Group 3 triumph in the John Porter StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Several of those wins came under a penalty, while Hamish also has a pair of excellent runner-up efforts at Group 1 level on his career record, suggesting a win at Group 2 level is far from beyond him, even at the age of eight.

Trainer William Haggas said: "I'm disappointed that Goliath is in the race as it makes things difficult but Hamish has to run somewhere and this looks the right race. If the weather forecasts are right over there it will be soft, which will suit Hamish very well."

Zarakem has form with plenty of cut in the ground, notably when running down some useful rivals on going described as very heavy at the start of the campaign in the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt over a furlong shy of this 1m3f trip.

Jerome Reynier toyed with a tilt at the Champion Stakes but has opted for what should be a slightly less onerous task, even with Goliath in opposition, while a possible trip to the Longines Hong Kong International Races in December is a possibility if he were to perform well here.

Zarakem's connections after finishing second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"Six runners and staying in France is on the face of it easier than going to Ascot for an exceptional-looking Champion Stakes with a big field," said Reynier. "He's come out of the Arc in very good form."

It will probably take several of the main players to underperform for either the veteran Monty or Maniatic to threaten the number-one spot, but Godolphin's lightly raced four-year-old Marquisat found only Iresine too strong in this race last year and has run two good races this season in testing ground, most recently when just edged out by stablemate Junko in the Grand Prix de Chantilly at the start of June.

Read these next:

'We're hoping for a big run off a nice weight' - quotes for the fiercely competitive Munster National 

Ebor runner-up out to strike in Listed company over hurdles and Tommie Beau bids for repeat Durham National win 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.