FRENCH 2,000 GUINEAS: JUST A WEEK after producing a 2,000 Guineas masterclass on Henrythenavigator at Newmarket, Johnny Murtagh is hoping the power of Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard can provide him with a first Classic victory in France tomorrow.
Murtagh will be on board Georgebernardshaw, one of three O'Brien hopes, in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp.
The in-form jockey is also set to ride O'Brien's Psalm in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the 1,000 Guineas, where she will be joined by her stable companion Halfway To Heaven as they try to foil the raging hot favourite, Zarkava.
Murtagh has ridden eight Group One winners in France during his career, including last month's Prix Ganay on Duke Of Marmalade, but none in the Classics.
O'Brien, however, has a splendid Poulains record, having won with Landseer in 2003 and with Aussie Rules and Astronomer Royal in the last two years.
He also landed the Pouliches with Rose Gypsy in 2001.
The ground at Longchamp is predicted to ride on the quick side, which should not be a problem for the Listed winner Georgebernardshaw.
He is joined by his stablemates One Great Cat (Thierry Thulliez) and Lucifer Sam (David McCabe) in a 19-strong field that also includes the Godolphin pair Rio De La Plata and Il Warrd.
Draw position will be even more vital than usual in such a big field and the O'Brien trio got lucky yesterday with Georgebernardshaw in stall seven.
But there wasn't such good news for the leading French hope, Thewayyouare, who races in the colours of the Irish businessman Seán Mulryan.
Thewayyouare is boxed on the outside in stall 15.
Today Murtagh will be at Lingfield, where O'Brien runs Alessandro Volta and King Of Rome in the Group Three Totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes, while Ice Queen is the Ballydoyle hope in the Listed Totesport Oaks Trial Stakes.
Other Irish interest across-channel today will centre on Haydock's Totepool Swinton Hurdle and the reappearance of Tony Martin's Cesarewitch winner Leg Spinner.
Ruby Walsh's mount is joined in the Grade Three event by Jessica Harrington's Dreamy Gent.
