It is hard to see any grounds for opposing the home team at ParisLongchamp this afternoon.
Wild Illusion hardly advertised the Prix Marcel Boussac form with fourth in the 1000 Guineas but the runner-up that day, Freddie Head’s POLYDREAM, comes straight to the Pouliches (3:15) with arguably the best form and should go close if she has trained on. Naturally, that makes her favourite in the British bookies’ markets, ahead of the unbeaten Barkaa and Musis Amica. Looking at the field, there is little top draw juvenile form being brought into the first renewal at the new course and it is hard to fancy Ballydoyle raider Could It Be Love on a Dundalk maiden win.
It is very hard to make a case for U S Navy Flag in the Poulains (2:35) after his miserable debut performance and it would not be a surprise to see him drop back to sprinting if he flops today. I note he holds an entry in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. It is hard to make a case for Hey Gaman, representing the devalued British trials form. OLMEDO comes here having been touched off over course and distance in the Prix Fontainebleau (one of the key French trials) by Wootton but can reverse that form for Jean Claude Rouget.
Doubtless at Leopardstown all eyes will be on Magical in the 1000 Guineas Trial and Ballydoyle also has the first three in the betting for the Derby Trial.