French Preview: Laurens backed to spoil family affair

The Gurkha won three of his six races (placed in his other three, including the St James’s Palace and Eclipse), and he produced one of his best performances when landing the Poule d’Essai des Poulains – more commonly known as the French 2000 Guineas – at Deauville. Though he currently stands for €25,000 at Coolmore’s Irish base, his name adorns the Prix Saint-Alary, a Group 1 for fillies over a mile and a quarter which returns to its usual Longchamp home this weekend after two years at Deauville.

Despite sponsoring the race, there are no Coolmore runners in Sunday’s five-strong field, with Britain and Ireland represented by Laurens. A rangy filly, Laurens was most progressive at two, winning three of her four starts, including the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and Fillies' Mile at Newmarket (by a nose from September, making all on the stands rail).

Laurens canters up High Moor in front as @karl_burke prepares her for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday week. Trainer says: 'I've been really happy with her all winter and I think she's still flying a bit under the radar despite winning a Group 1'. #ChampionsSeries pic.twitter.com/v8S1NVoNX2

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) 26 April 2018

She ran a cracking first race of the campaign after seven months off when a length and three quarters second to Billesdon Brook in the 1000 Guineas back on the Rowley Mile, excuses being made for her afterwards about the trip and the ground, though really none were needed.

The fourth foal of a dam who was a winner up to a mile and three quarters, Laurens is likely to be suited by the step up in trip here and can win this valuable contest before heading to the Prix de Diane next month.

Leading the opposition is With You - a sister to Prix de l'Opera winner We Are - who won a newcomers race at Saint-Cloud (by six lengths) in September, before following up in a Deauville Group 3 in October. She will stay this trip and is likely to improve further, though will need to take her form up another notch or two here.

While With You’s trainer Freddy Head has just one win in the race to his name (as a trainer, a race-leading nine as a jockey), Flowrider’s handler Andre Fabre has won the Saint-Alary eight times. One of those was Flowrider’s dam Wavering, who landed the 2011 renewal by a short-neck, and her daughter could be anything after impressively winning a Saint-Cloud maiden on debut earlier this month.

Soustraction, who was relatively well held in a Longchamp Group 3 last time, and Saint-Cloud listed winner Tosen Gift, whose win came on very testing ground, complete the line-up.

Prix d’Ispahan

As with the Saint-Alary, the Prix d’Ispahan has attracted a disappointing turnout and just one British contender. The six-year-old Almodovar was a progressive handicapper a couple of seasons ago and produced his best performance when third in the 2016 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Last season was a right-off, and for all he made a promising return when two lengths fourth to Crystal Ocean (winner since) in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last time, he looks up against it here.

The one to beat is probably Taareef, a seven-time winner who is clear on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. Jean-Claude Rouget’s charge was some way below his best on his reappearance when four and three quarter lengths third to Recoletos in a Saint-Cloud Group 2 earlier this month, but would be a tough nut to crack here if anywhere near the form he showed when three quarters of a length second to Ribchester in last year’s Prix du Moulin at Chantilly.

The Qatar Prix du Moulin goes to Ribchester who continues his excellent season with more Group 1 success at @fgchantilly: pic.twitter.com/e87FkIq3gD

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) 10 септември 2017 г.

Recoletos did well to make up three lengths on the previous year's winner Jimmy Two Times when winning at Saint-Cloud, and he looks the type to make his mark again at Group 1 level this year (in the frame in both the Prix du Jockey Club and Champion Stakes in 2017). He commands plenty of respect, unlike his stablemate Oriental who looks out of his depth and may act as a pacemaker once more.

Trais Fluors won three times last season and also ran well in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly (one and a quarter lengths second to Thunder Snow) and Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville (one and a half lengths fourth to Al Wukair). He was well held in the Dubai Turf at Meydan last time, but that run can be ignored and he is respected now back on home soil.

The seven-year-old German raider Wild Chief completes the field, but has been nowhere near his best on his last two starts, sporting blinkers on each occasion. He has plenty to prove now, but bounced back to his 2015 best when winning at Dortmund last summer and can’t be completely ruled out in what looks a very winnable Group 1.