The leading 2000 Guineas hope, Second Empire, will face a maximum of four rivals in the Group One Grand Criterium at Long champ on Sunday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt will be bidding to repeat his success in the Prix des Chenes over the same course and distance last month.

Defectors from the big, one-mile juvenile event at yesterday's forfeit stage were Second Empire's stablemate Saratoga Springs and the French pair Bandit d'Honneur and Cyrillic.

British entries Alboostan (trained by David Morley) and Carrowkeel (Barry Hills) both stood their ground.

The home acceptors are Prix Morny winner Charge d'Affaires (Alain de Royer-Dupre) and Worms (Henri Van de Poele).