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Entries for the two Group 1 French Guineas (the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches) along with the Group One Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on Sunday have been released.
Entries for the two Group 1 French Guineas (the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches) along with the Group One Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on Sunday have been released.
Eight of the seventeen colts in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and seven of the eighteen fillies in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches represent UK and Irish runners.
Aidan O'Brien has three entered in the colts' Classic – Cairo, Paddington, and Hans Andersen. Half-brother to French Black Type performer Masterpiece, Paddington won the Listed Tetrach Stakes at the Curragh on his first attempt in Stakes company. Hans Andersen steps up in trip following victory on heavy ground in the seven furlong 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown whilst Cairo will be looking to bounce back following a disappointing run in Dubai.
John & Thady Gosden think highly of Slipofthepen, owned by HM The King & HM The Queen Consort, who skipped the 2000 Guineas on Coronation Day in favour of this race. Isaac Shelby represents top UK 2000 Guineas trials form as a winner of the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
Charlie Appleby's Mysterious Night, Simon & Ed Crisford's Knight and Andrew Balding's Holguin complete the international entries.
They will face the first and the third from the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere - Belbek, trained by Andre Fabre and Breizh Sky, representing Alessandro and Giuseppi Botti. American Flag has won his past three including the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau and is to be partnered again by Christophe Soumillon.
In the fillies' Classic, the international runners will need to be at their best to beat Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Blue Rose Cen who was a comfortable winner of the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte on seasonal reappearance.
Never Ending Story, winner of the Group 3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial, heads up three runners from the Aidan O'Brien stable. She is joined by Listed placed Dower House and Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri.
Harry Eustace sends over impressive maiden winner Couplet, whilst Polly Pott could be backing up quickly after finishing down the field in the 1000 Guineas last week. Bridestones represents the John & Thady Gosden duo and Karl Burke's Swingalong completes the UK and Irish line-up.
Three UK or Irish trained fillies hold double entries in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix Saint-Alary: Polly Pott, Dower House and Bridestones. Aidan O'Brien's Boogie Woogie and Richard Hughes' Sparkling Beauty are also entered.
