ParisLongchamp

2.50 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) 1m

Aidan O’Brien may have experienced a chastening 48 hours at Newmarket last weekend but he should fare better in Paris tomorrow as he holds a strong hand among a 12-strong field for the first classic of the French season, the Group 1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp.

The master of Ballydoyle has landed this mile contest on six previous occasions but, although each one of his representatives could turn out to be as good as some of the lesser talented members of that triumphant sextet, they face an exceptional French colt in the shape of American Flag so may be left to fight it out for the place berths.

American Flag is an extremely exciting prospect and carries the pink and purple diamond silks of Malcolm Parrish, whose ownership career dates back over 30 years and includes good winners trained by, among others, Aidan’s predecessor and namesake, Vincent O’Brien.

A son of Wootton Bassett, he did not make his juvenile debut until late October and could barely have been more impressive in two starts this term, beating the subsequent listed scorer Kendly (who reopposes here) on his reappearance and then posting a two and a half-length success in the main course and distance trial, the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

Irish challenge

Well suited by the prevailing testing underfoot conditions, he can see off the Irish challenge to give his trainer, Yann Barberot, the biggest win of his 15-year training career.

With Paddington and Cairo non-runners, Ballydoyle hopes rest with Hans Andersen. Runner-up in Group 2 company back in August, Hans Anderson returned from a near seven-month absence to lift the Group 3 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown six weeks ago.

Isaac Shelby and Knight, the two British hopes, both ran in last month’s Group 3 Greenham Stakes.

Isaac Shelby won it, leaving Knight 18 lengths adrift in seventh, but the race was devalued when Chaldean unshipped his rider leaving the stalls and, though trainer Brian Meehan holds him in the highest regard, Isaac Shelby probably needs another big leap forward if he is going to be involved in the finish here.

Best of the rest could be Valimi, who took advantage of American Flag’s inexperience to defeat him on their respective debuts and could offer a bit of each-way value.

SELECTION: AMERICAN FLAG

Next Best: Hans Andesen

3.30 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) 1m

Little more than three years into his training career and Christopher Head is riding the crest of a wave at present with his yard strike rate running at a remarkable 30%.

Last Tuesday his Rock Of Gibraltar colt Big Rock ran away with the Group 3 Prix de Guiche to rocket to the top of the Prix du Jockey Club ante-post market and tomorrow, Blue Rose Cen, the Churchill filly who broke Head’s Group 1 duck in October’s Prix Marcel Boussac, can grab him a first classic by landing the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

Blue Rose Cen notched her third straight victory over this course and distance when making light of the heavy ground to register a comfortable victory over Lindy in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte three weeks ago and it is hard to imagine any other outcome in similarly rain-soaked conditions on Sunday.

Showay caused a big shock when beating four other Pouliches runners to land the big Deauville trial race, the Group 3 Prix Imprudence.

But that was a very rough race, and the finishing order may well be very different between the quintet this time.

Aidan O’Brien runs Never Ending Story, winner of the Group 3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial a six weeks ago. But Never Ending Story was almost six lengths behind Blue Rose Cen when they met in the Boussac.

If there is to be a surprise, maybe it will be provided by Kelina, who is surely much better than she showed when tailed off last as the favourite for the Boussac.

SELECTION: BLUE ROSE CEN

Next Best: Kelina

4.10 St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Group 1) 1m 2f

It is hard to see Coolmore recouping much of their sponsorship money in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary given that their representative, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Dubawi filly Boogie Woogie, was beaten in four maidens prior to finally getting off the mark at Naas last month.

The trainer to follow here is Carlos Laffon-Parias as he saddles two exciting Frankel fillies in Jannah Rose and Left Sea.

Jannah Rose is unbeaten in two starts including the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux but may have her colours lowered by her stablemate.

SELECTION: LEFT SEA

Next Best: Jannah Rose

Earlier on the card, Joseph O’Brien has found an excellent opportunity for his four-year-old filly Brostaigh in the five-furlong Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges and she could well land a second nice French prize following on from her Chantilly Group 2 triumph last June.