Burke keen on Shanakill chance

Karl Burke believes Lord Shanakill has improved from his fine run at Ascot as he prepares for the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on Sunday.The three-year-old was most consistent last term having finished placed in the Dewhurst, Prix Morny and Coventry Stakes. After disappointing in the 2000 Guineas on his first run of the campaign, he ran out of his skin behind Mastercraftsman and Delegator in the St James's Palace Stakes."Everything has gone according to plan. He arrived in Chantilly about 1pm on Friday and he travelled really well. I said after Ascot I thought there was a bit of improvement in him and he has shown that at home, he looks tremendous and I think he'll run a huge race," said Burke."Ascot was really his first run of the season as he was all wrong before the Guineas so we are very hopeful."I'm not going to say this is an easier race than the St James's Palace, I'll leave that for other people to decide, but it really would be great if he can get the big win he deserves."Burke also runs his classy juvenile Corporal Maddox in the Group Three Prix Du Bois after an impressive win in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom."We are taking a small chance dropping him back from six furlongs to five after he got the six so well at Epsom, but he is not a horse that is short of speed," said Burke."The other option was to go to the July Stakes but historically that is a much tougher race than this. It's nice prize money and looks a good opportunity to go for a Group Three."We probably wouldn't have sent him out on his own, but as we were going anyway we thought we'd send him. He's very well and he'll run a big race."