Prohibit strikes again in sprint season to remember

Robert Cowell's stable standard bearer Prohibit once again showed that he is very much at the top of the European tree over five furlongs when cosily accounting for smart opposition to land the Group 3 Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert at a rain-swept Longchamp on Sunday, writes Elliot Slater.

The horse who has progressed from being a useful handicapper to a top-notch Group 1 sprinter this term proved once again that he is effective on just about any surface in handing out a cheeky head defeat to Mar Ardento and has well and truly booked his place for a return visit to the Paris track for the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc day on October 2. Those following the horse race betting should keep a close eye on him.

Hopefully Cowell will get to witness Prohibit running first-hand next time, as he was one of many hundreds of British racegoers who were held up on the Eurostar express service as a result of the British Transport Police confronting three people on board the cross-Channel train on suspicion of potential terrorist activities. The three were removed from the train and later released after questioning, but the delay meant that Cowell missed seeing his pride and joy win another good prize.

Prohibit's upsurge in form began when winning the Dubai Trophy Handicap at Meydan in February of this year, and he continued on an upward curve with fine placed efforts in Group 2 company at Haydock and Chantilly in the spring before running the race of his life to outpoint Australia's Star Witness to win the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Anyone betting on horse racing will have been keeping an eye on his progress.

A close third to Margot Did (winning his race on the unfavoured far side of the track), in York's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in August, Prohibit showed with his latest win that he really is the one they all have to beat in the 'Abbaye' and is quite likely to be sent off favourite to round off a superb season with another top prize to add to his collection.