World Racing 
/ Timeform / 14 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Wootton Bassett leads the British charge.
"After Dream Ahead’s withdrawal, the British challenge is spearheaded by Richard Fahey’s Wootton Bassett."
It's just over two weeks since Frankel's demolition job in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and, on Sunday, Longchamp stages the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Timeform's Paul Robson looks at the main contenders, including a strong contingent aiming to bring the crown back across the English Channel.
After Dream Ahead's withdrawal, the British challenge is spearheaded by Richard Fahey's Wootton Bassett, the unbeaten colt who gave the North Yorkshire trainer his first Group 1 success when winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last October. This will be Wootton Bassett's first run as a 3-y-o after being scratched from the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket due to a lacklustre workout on the gallops, however, reports suggest the trainer is delighted with how his star has worked of late and he has a very real chance of emulating Shamardal, the last winner to be trained in Britain.
Godolphin were responsible for the aforementioned Shamardal and this year they are sending over Wood Ditton winner Midsummer Fair. It's surely a sign of the regard in which Midsummer Fair is held that he's going from a newcomers race at Newmarket to a classic, but he's undoubtedly got to improve a lot and is clearly short on experience.
The sole Irish contender is David Wachman's Imperial Rome. He's done nothing but progress in a four-race career, completing a hat-trick at the Curragh at the start of the month, and there's a good chance he could be overlooked in the betting.
The Prix de Fontainebleau is often the best trial for the Poulains and a good number from the latest renewal of that race will be heading back to Longchamp on Sunday. However, the fact that less than three lengths separated the front seven in the Fontainebleu suggests there is not a star French three-year-old miler in the ranks just yet.
That said, the one to take out of the race, could be Salto, who struggled to quicken off of a false pace that day and eventually did well to finish sixth, just 1¼ lengths behind winner Glaswegian. A faster gallop on Sunday may well see Freddie Head celebrating his first Poulains as a trainer after winning it six times as a jockey.
Andre Fabre has won the Poulains five times in the past, including with Lope de Vega last year, and his Godolphin-owned representative Modern History is a horse on the upgrade. Two wins from as many runs this season, this listed-winner could be a threat in the hands of rising star Mikael Barzalona.
Finally, like Head, Pascal Bary has never won the Poulains, but his aforementioned Glaswegian has to be respected even though defeated in heavy going by Modern History on his penultimate start.
Two meetings in Ireland this Sunday and we have selections on the Flat at Navan and over the sticks at Killarney....
It's French Guineas day at Longchamp on Sunday. Timeform's Paul Robson looks at the contenders for the fillies race, the Poules d'Essai des Pouliches......
There's an earlier start than usual for the Timeform US tipping team, with the first of three plays coming up at 18:28 BST........
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