Rest of ParisLongchamp
Sunday
1.15 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) 7f
Aidan O’Brien has already won this eight times and has a great chance of number nine thanks to St Mark’s Basilica, already third and fifth in two highly competitive Group 1s, the National Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes.
This Siyouni half-brother to the 2019 2000 Guineas winner, Magna Grecia, does not look the easiest of rides, but he has won off soft and has a massive home reputation.
Ken Condon’s Railway Stakes winner, Law Of Indices, also takes his chance, though he was four lengths behind St Mark’s Basilica in the National.
A bigger threat to Irish success will be the British raider, Nando Parrado, winner of the Coventry Stakes before finishing second in the Prix Morny.
SELECTION: ST MARK’S BASILICA
Next best: Nando Parrado
1.50 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium des Pouliches (Group 1) (2yo Fillies) 1m
The Irish bonanza looks set to continue here, following three big-race successes at ParisLongchamp three weeks ago, and Joseph O’Brien’s Pretty Gorgeous boasts the best form having alternated verdicts with Shale in Group 3, Group 2 and Group 1 company.
Yet she may find a mile on heavy ground stretches her stamina.
Preference is for the Ken Condon-trained Thunder Beauty, two and a half lengths and three places behind her but staying on well when fifth in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs.
Aidan O’Brien is represented by the Naas Group 3 scorer Mother Earth who has finished some way behind Pretty Gorgeous on both of her last two starts.
The British hope, Fev Rover, merits respect on the back of a heavy-ground Group 2 Prix du Calvados win which has been franked by the second and third.
The best of the home team could be the remarkable Tiger Tanaka, a four-time scorer, including in a Group 3, since being bought out of a Lyon Parilly claimer for just €24,000.
SELECTION: THUNDER BEAUTY
Next best: Pretty Gorgeous
3.50 Prix de l’Opera Longines (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) 1m 2f
Five Group 1 winners of 2020 do battle here in what promises to be a magnificent contest.
My inkling is that the Prix Jacques le Marois may turn out to be one of the best races of the year.
Jessica Harrington’s Alpine Star, who ploughed through heavy ground to get within three-quarters of a length of the Marois winner, Palace Pier, can go one better here and take revenge on her Prix de Diane conqueror, Fancy Blue.
Dermot Weld’s Tarnawa faces very different underfoot conditions to when she was so impressive in the Prix Vermeille three weeks ago.
Audayra, who proved herself at home in the mud when landing the Prix Jean Romanet, may have a better chance, but Alpine Star is the selection.
SELECTION: ALPINE STAR
Next best: Fancy Blue
4.25 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1) (2yo+) 5f
Glass Slippers, Keep Busy, Make A Challenge and Liberty Beach – first, second, fifth and seventh in the Group 1 Flying Five over thus trip on good ground at the Curragh three weeks ago – reoppose. Make A Challenge will prefer this ground but Glass Slippers has never looked better than when winning this on a testing surface 12 months ago and may again prove too strong.
SELECTION: GLASS SLIPPERS
Next best: Make A Challenge
4.55 Qatar Prix de la Foret (Group 1) (3yo+) 7f
One Master is bidding to become the first horse to wins this three times but, like Enable, she may come up short.
Beaten only once in his life and a Group 1 winner on heavy ground as a juvenile, Earthlight is a worthy favourite. However, the value bet could be an each-way play on the other André Fabre candidate, Tropbeau, who lost her way in the spring but flew home to get within three-quarters of a length of Earthlight over this course and distance three weeks ago.
SELECTION: TROPBEAU
Next best: Earthlight