Charyn Set for Epic Showdown with Notable Speech in Prix du Moulin

Charyn is eagerly anticipating his high-profile duel with 2000 Guineas champion Notable Speech, as Roger Varian's "complete horse" aims to extend his exceptional season in the Prix du Moulin.

The four-year-old has had a remarkable campaign, winning four out of five races and establishing himself as one of the world's top milers with major victories at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes and at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Dark Angel's progeny now confronts another significant challenge in Charlie Appleby's star and Aidan O'Brien's Group One-winning juvenile Henry Longfellow. However, the Newmarket trainer is excited about the upcoming Sunday showdown at ParisLongchamp.

Varian remarked: 'We're looking forward to it and we're enjoying the journey he is taking us on this year.

'The horse seems to be going from strength to strength and you have to look forward to competing in these exciting races and taking on some three-year-olds on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how we do.'

Charyn's ascent to the pinnacle of the mile division is quite astonishing when you consider he made little impact during his three-year-old season.

Nevertheless, Varian always had high hopes for Nurlan Bizakov's colt. Encouraging winter performances were followed by early-season victories at Doncaster and Sandown, convincing Varian that Charyn could compete at the highest level.

Varian added: 'We've always thought the world of him, hence he had a serious campaign last year. So I would say it is not a surprise to see his progress, but we also know how hard it is competing at the top-table.

'This time last year it may have been hard to predict but watching him winter and that performance in the spring, albeit in Listed company at Doncaster at March, it just looked like he was starting to become the complete horse.

'I guess that's what we would say he is, he looks the complete horse now. He's very mature, he's very strong mentally and has a good, tough attitude. He's also very adaptable, he handles different ground and it all seems to come the same to him, whatever the going description.

'He's just proving to be a very good horse and they are hard to come by. He's one of them, so we're going to enjoy it.'

After impressing in the 2000 Guineas, Notable Speech rebounded from a disappointing St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting to claim victory in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, solidifying his status among the elite at this distance.

This will be his first head-to-head with Charyn and also his first experience on a potentially softer surface. Nevertheless, the Moulton Paddocks handler is optimistic about his horse's performance in the French capital.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: 'Notable Speech is in great order. The obvious unknown will be the going – they had a lot of rain in Paris on Thursday but hopefully we can have a couple of drying days, while they will be racing on a fresh strip of ground.

'I couldn't be any happier with Notable Speech in terms of his wellbeing. He showed he was back to what we saw in the 2000 Guineas last time out in the Sussex Stakes, and it's going to be a very exciting race.

'Charyn looks to be our main opposition but it's a strong field, as is always the case in these top races.

'We are excited to be part of it and hopefully Notable Speech can maintain his excellent year. This will be the first time he has encountered this type of ground, but we are hopeful he can handle it. It's always a bit of a guessing game until you've actually raced on it.'

Henry Longfellow has yet to find the scoresheet at three, but has top form to his name, including when a neck second to Rosallion at Royal Ascot.

Things did not go as planned when he was favoured to defeat Notable Speech at Goodwood, but the Ballydoyle team is ready to move past that experience.

O'Brien said: 'It was (a mess at Goodwood). We could not believe that happened, it was our last thought – we couldn't see anyone to go (with him).

'It was mad – but that's just racing. Everyone is entitled to do whatever, but we got it wrong. We didn't see it happening, it just happened and he was there and couldn't get out of it. He had to keep going.'

Andre Fabre, the race's leading trainer, sends out what might be France's best hope, Tribalist.

Francois Rohaut's Caramelito is unbeaten in three starts but faces his toughest test yet. Last year's Prix de la Foret winner Kelina (Carlos Laffon-Parias) and Christopher Head's Ramadan round out the field.