Bigstone was the last French-trained winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 21 years ago, but that has not discouraged Freddy Head from going for this prestigious prize with Charm Spirit at Ascot on Saturday.
The son of Invincible Spirit has won four of his five starts this year, with the only blot coming in the Qipco 2000 Guineas when he was fifth to Night Of Thunder.
His victory over Toronado and Night Of Thunder, both trained by Richard Hannon, in the Prix du Moulin last month makes him a leading contender.
"He has improved a lot since he last came to England," said the French trainer.
"The ground at Ascot will not bother him - he will go on anything."
Night Of Thunder reopposes and Hannon is optimistic the 2000 Guineas winner can turn the tables with conditions to suit.
"The ground will be soft at best, and we have to make the most of it. But Night Of Thunder revelled in those conditions last year, so we have no worries on that score with him." the Marlborough trainer told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.
"Apart from the Eclipse, he has not put a foot wrong this season. He won what looked a very strong 2000 Guineas and, though put in his place by Kingman at Royal Ascot, he lost nothing in defeat.
"The cards did not fall his way in the Moulin at Longchamp last time, but he still ran a blinder and he worked as well earlier in the week as he did before the Guineas, so we think he is right back on his A-game.
"Night Of Thunder is in good form and has been moving very well."
The Hannon stable is also represented by Toormore. Last year's champion two-year-old has failed to live up to heady expectations so far in 2014, but his connections have not given up on him yet.
"With Ryan Moore claimed by Michael Stoute for Integral, we are delighted to have got Kieren Fallon for Toormore," said the trainer.
"The physical improvement that this horse has made since the spring is amazing. OK, he won the Craven at Newmarket in April, but we never had him like we wanted him for the first half of the season.
"However, since Royal Ascot he has done nothing but thrive. He has put on weight and is working much better than he was early on. We hope that he will cope with the ground and if he does, he could surprise a few people."
Connections of Tullius have been dreaming of this day since the Andrew Balding-trained six-year-old won the Group Two bet365 Mile on soft ground at Sandown in April.
With conditions in his favour, Tullius has each-way claims.
"This has been his aim since he won the bet365 Mile at Sandown. We thought the best chance we had of his ground would be at this meeting and although he ran in the Lockinge and in the Queen Anne when the ground was too fast, still ran crackers," said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds
"He was second to Olympic Glory in the Lockinge and was fourth in the Queen Anne. On that form he must have an each-way chance.
"Sixteen people own this horse in our syndicate and we're not getting ahead of ourselves. This horse owes us nothing. We just hope he's in the top four.
"With Kingman out it's an open race and the ground will bring the horses together.
"The one outsider I respect is Kingsbarns. He's a bit under the radar. He's got good form on soft ground and I think he's been underrated. He was third to Olympic Glory in this race last year.
"We are under the radar a bit as well and it will be a very exciting day."
Integral takes on colts and geldings for the first time in her career after showing she is one of the best of her own sex at a mile.
The Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old has won twice at the highest level this season and now aims to break new ground just two weeks after her victory in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
"She appeared to take the race very well after winning the Sun Chariot last time, both in terms of weight loss and demeanour - but Group One races do leave their scars, so we will know on Saturday if 14 days has been enough," said Stoute.
"It looks a good race. Freddy Head's horse, Charm Spirit, won the Moulin last time out. Night of Thunder ran very well in that race too - he might have been a bit unlucky to finish third and will go on the likely soft ground.
"But the Sun Chariot was only Integral's fifth race of the season, and we have nothing to lose."
Custom Cut has been a revelation since joining David O'Meara's team, winning his last five races, culminating in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
"He's a good little horse and all ground seems to come alike to him. It was good ground when he won the Joel Stakes and soft to heavy when he went to Leopardstown and won the Desmond," said O'Meara.
"A few of the other horses in the race might not bring their A-game on that sort of ground, so it should increase his chances, hopefully."
Top Notch Tonto gave his connections a day to remember when second to the Hannon senior-trained Olympic Glory 12 months ago and Brian Ellison's stable star carries plenty of confidence as he aims to go one better.
"Tonto is in the form of his life, he's absolutely flying," said his proud owner Keith Brown.
"We know he loves the ground and he loves the track. He goes there with a hell of a chance.
"Our region is on the up, and for Top Notch to go to Ascot and compete on an international scale is nothing short of a fairytale."
Brendan Bracken will be a big outsider but he is a useful performer and carries the colours of Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, whose Qipco banner sponsor the day.
"It's a big ask. I'm not so sure about the ground, but he's spot on and he's running for Sheikh Fahad to enjoy. It's his big weekend," said trainer Ger Lyons.
"He has beaten Custom Cut on a number of occasions, but didn't the last time. Custom Cut has improved so it's a big ask for the horse, but this is why he was bought."
