French Classic trials

France's key mile Classic trials take place on Sunday, with ParisLongchamp hosting the G3 Prix de la Grotte and G3 Prix de Fontainebleau over the same course and distance of next month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Poulains. The Grotte sees some major names among the generation's fillies making their seasonal return, led by China Horse Club International's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Rose Bloom (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Alain Jathiere's G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Tulipa Chope (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}). The Aga Khan's four-length...

Following Tuesday's Derby pointer at Leopardstown, there are more preps for the upcoming middle-distance Classics on Wednesday in France and Ireland, with Chantilly staging the G3 Prix de Guiche which is a key pointer to the July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club. There are two from ParisLongchamp's May 14 G3 Prix la Force re-opposing in the third and fourth Chachnak (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) respectively and the form of that nine-furlong contest has already been boosted by the runner-up Ocean Atlantique...