Prix de Diane (Group 1)

Christopher Head’s Blue Rose Cen and John and Thady Gosden’s Running Loin vie for favourtism at around 3/1 for the French Oaks. The former won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) over a mile here in May while a week earlier the latter was an impressive winner over this trip at Listed level in the Pretty Poly at Newmarket. Both extended their winning sequences to four. Running Loin made it to the start in the Oaks at Epsom but was withdrawn when getting upset in the stalls.

Just behind them in the market, around the 5/1 mark are Andre Fabre’s Pensee Du Jour, an easy winner of the Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud in April, and Carlos Laffon-Parias’s Jannah Rose, winner of the Prix Saint-Alary over this trip at Longchamp.

Caroline Steet in the ring at Leopardstown last September before running second to Auguste Rodin in the Juvenile Stakes

Elusive Princess second in the Prix Saint-Alary is bunched together with the Irish pair, Aidan O’Brien’s, Never Ending Story, and Joseph O’Brien’s, Caroline Street, all trading as outsiders at 16/1. Aidan’s filly was a staying-on fifth (beaten 5L) by Blue Rose Cen at Longchamp last time out having been bumped leaving the stalls while Joseph’s filly won the Blue Wind over this trip at the Naas in an eye-catching last-to-first performance in her seasonal debut. Last year she travelled sweetly behind the Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown coming from off the pace to give him something to think about.

Never Ending Story winning the Silver Flash at Leopardstown last July

If Aidan lands this it will bring up his 100th Classic win. A win for Joseph will mark his first Classic win in France. Never Ending Story should relish the step up in trip while Caroline Steet has already shown her liking for the trip when winning at Naas.

While Blue Rose Cen is a worthy favourite having landed the Prix Marcel Boussac last year and the Pouliches this year however both wins were on soft ground. Conditions today will be better which makes her vulnerable, this should help the Irish fillies. The draw is important too, Blue Rose Cen is in stall one with Running Loin boxed wide in stall twelve. This will give Blue Rose Cen the opportunity to boss the race, with Caroline Steet in stall two and Never Ending Story in stall three, the Irish pair can sit in behind and pounce late.

Recommendation

Caroline Street 16/1 ew

Never Ending Story 16/1 ew