Join

Hawk Mountain sets up French Derby raid

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Mon 4 May 2026

Hawk Mountain teed himself up for a likely tilt at the French Derby with victory in the Prix de Guiche at Chantilly.

The Wootton Bassett colt won three of his four juvenile starts last season, completing his hat-trick when leading home a Ballydoyle one-two-three in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Following his eleventh hour defection from last month’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket due to drying ground, Hawk Mountain travelled across the Channel for his belated reappearance and he was soon bowling along in front in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

Sporting cheekpieces for the first time, the three-year-old hung left rounding the home turn and also looked a little wayward when coming under pressure, but he was eventually straightened up by Soumillon and only had to be pushed out hands and heels in the last of nine furlongs to win comfortably from Lord Clover.

Speaking at the Curragh, O’Brien said: “I was very happy and Christophe was very happy. He just said he couldn’t believe how babyish he was still.”

Hawk Mountain holds a whole host of big-race entries, ranging from the Irish 2,000 Guineas over a mile to the Betfred Derby at Epsom over a mile and a half, but the 10-furlong Prix du Jockey Club back at Chantilly on May 31 appears to be his preferred option.

“I’m delighted that we sent him to the track if he’s going to go back for the French Derby,” O’Brien added.

“Christophe said he won very snug – he didn’t touch him or anything.”

York return on cards for Al Nayyir

Efsixteen takes flight and sets up Ascot tilt

Eustace going to war

Radio in tune for York

Quai holds on in thriller

Todays top offer

Get 1,000,000 Free Spins on J Cole

T&Cs Apply

18+ New customers only. Bet £10+ on pre-match accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get 4x £5 Horse Racing Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org

Claim Now

Featured offers

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets with Midnite

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

This is a test description for a Midnite offer etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. 18+ Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

Testing JC

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets + £10 Casino + money back if 2nd to SP fav EXTERNAL LINK ANCHORAnother LINK

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Please bet responsibly

My Account

Home

Watch

Live

Replays

On Demand

Catch Up

Tv Schedule

RTV Play Schedule

Racecards

Today's Runners

Non-Runners

Tommorow's Runners

Racing Calendar

Results

Tips

Racing TV Tipsters

Nap Of The Day

News

All

Latest

Highlights

Columnists