NEWS: Michael Kinane has chosen Diaghilev from the Ballydoyle team for tomorrow's French Derby as Aidan O'Brien goes in search of a fourth classic victory of the campaign.
With Hawk Wing and High Chaparral being aimed at Epsom next Saturday, the Chantilly expedition has a second division feel, especially with the home team confident they have their own potential superstar in Act One.
The Prix Lupin winner is odds on to repel the O'Brien horses but the Irish trainer has decided to also give Castle Gandolfo (John Murtagh) a first start since disappointing in the Kentucky Derby.
"He has been in good form since America but obviously he has never run over a mile and a half before. One can never be confident about staying but we are hopeful," O'Brien said yesterday.
"Black Sam Bellamy (Jamie Spencer) is in good form and is a type that will improve as the year progresses. Diaghilev is Mick's choice and has won his two races this season." Temple Of Artemis is in as a pacemaker.
The French defence is a strong one and the unbeaten Act One, the winner of two major French Derby trials, including the Prix Lupin, and Khalkevi is similarly unbeaten.
Louveteau,could also prove dangerous in tandem with the progressive talents of Sulamani, Le Fou and Polities.
O'Brien is also represented in the Group One Prix Jean Prat over nine furlongs where Kinane will ride the Tetrarch Stakes runner up Creekview. He is joined by Nostradamus (Colm O'Donoghue).
On the home front, the weekend feature at Cork is tomorrow's Group Three Ballyogan Stakes where Dermot Weld runs three.
Pat Smullen deserted Tiger Royal in last weekend's Greenlands but he isn't making the same mistake again and the Kings Stand prospect concedes weight all round.
Niall McCullagh is on the filly Steaming Home this time and the Rosewell House team is completed by Agnetha.
The dark horse is the English raider Jessica's Dream who was beaten less than half a length when fifth in the Palace House to Kyllachy.
Mick Fenton's mount picked up a Group Three at the San Siro last year and she is assured of acting on the soft going. Nevertheless, the in-form Tiger Royal should be hard to beat.
Weld also introduces the well-touted Jazz Beat in the conditons race for his first start since winning at Gowran last August.
The forecast soft going will hardly suit a horse that moves so well but even so, if some heady expectations are realistic, then Jazz Beat should be able to cope with Ursa Minor and Heezapistol.
Be My Royal finally got his act together over fences at Wexford when a slight mistake at the third last was the only blip on his defeat of Jaguar Claw.
That was a lot better than he had achieved earlier in the season and now the penny has dropped, the Archie O'Leary-owned horse looks the one in the handicap chase.
At the Mallow track today, Aidan O'Brien introduces the $4 million Warhol, a son of Saint Ballado, in the six furlong two-year-old race.
Midnight Kiss should find the trip in the seven furlongs handicap ideal after finishing just a length off Egyptian at the Curragh over a mile, and running fifth to Starbounre over a mile and a quarter before that.
