Connections are hoping that the extra two furlongs of today's race will count in his favour, and Bolger has already indicated that the French and Irish Derbys are under consideration for the son of Galileo, as well as Epsom.

Heliostatic needs good ground, and he is likely to encounter that here.

Aidan O'Brien has whittled his list of contenders down to three . . . Dylan Thomas, Mountain and Altius . . . and with stable jockey Kieren Fallon on duty for the trainer in Longchamp, the riding arrangements would appear to suggest that seasonal debutant Dylan Thomas, the mount of Seamus Heffernan, is the pick of O'Brien's trio.

The Dermot Weld-trained Golden Arrow was the one who got closest to subsequent English 2,000 Guineas hero George Washington in last season's National Stakes at the Curragh, finishing second, and the Danehill colt can be expected to improve on his recent neck second to Rhythm 'N' Roots.

Rekaab, from the in-form Kevin Prendergast stable, and Yasood's stable-companion Youmzain, who will appreciate the under foot conditions, complete the lineup, but Heliostatic is still the one who holds most appeal.

Sharing top billing at the meeting is the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial. Dermot Weld is doubly represented by Polished Gem and Queen Of Rap, and the fact that Pat Smullen has opted to ride Polished Gem, in preference to Queen Of Rap, sways the vote in her favour.