First up is Opera Singer after a scintillating finale to her juvenile career. Aidan O’Brien’s charge blew away all previous form when running out a convincing Group One winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
O’Brien has owned this contest, with ten victories already to his name, and the daughter of Justify was strongly fancied for the English 1,000 Guineas before meeting with a setback and skipping Newmarket with this target in mind.
There is no doubting the excitement around her but that slight hiccup, which saw her miss two weeks of work, could leave her vulnerable to race-fit rivals.
One of those is French 1,000 Guineas third Vespertilio, with former Kildare footballer Willie McCreery eyeing his biggest day in the training ranks via the Night Of Thunder filly.
She ran a blinder to finish right in the mix at Longchamp, although the two-week turnaround may be a slight worry, while Billy Lee also jumps off to ride Purple Lily for Paddy Twomey.
The latter is another intriguing contender, despite being just touched off in the Group Three Salsabil Stakes last month, while Twomey’s second-string looks that in name only.
A Lilac Rolla, which has an able deputy in five-time Irish champion Flat jockey Colin Keane, is three from three and has a victory over Opera Singer to her name as a two-year-old, while some cobwebs were blown off in a Group Three success at Leopardstown last month.
Then, there’s second-favourite Fallen Angel, with Karl Burke’s charge bidding to bounce back after finishing down the field when going off favourite in the Newmarket equivalent earlier this month.
Daniel Tudhope’s mount landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes here last season and could yet leave that last effort in the rear-view mirror while Skellet is another intriguing British raider.
Dermot Weld, victorious last year with Tahiyra, sends Azada into the heat of Classic battle off the back of just one start, a comfortable Leopardstown maiden success, but the master of Rosewell House rarely over-races his inmates so she commands respect under Chris Hayes.
When push comes to shove, Twomey may be the one victorious, with A Lilac Rolla tipped to continue her upward curve and provide the Tipperary-based trainer with a maiden Guineas win.
The undercard is not short of quality either, as O’Brien’s dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin bids to get back on track in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup (3.10).
No excuse was offered for his off-colour effort in the Sheema Classic two months ago and while he has made a habit of bouncing back to top form, White Birch is preferred at the prices.
