British and Irish Trainers Target French Guineas Success
Flat racing fans once again have much to look forward to this coming weekend. Hot on the heels of the Chester May Meeting, further Classic clues are on offer in the Derby and Oaks Trials at Lingfield and the Leopardstown Derby Trial. However, the highest profile contests take place across the Channel as Longchamp steps into the spotlight for the French 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas.
Officially titled the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the opening Classics of the French season take place over 1m of the Grand Piste course at the famous Parisian venue.
With considerable prize money and no shortage of prestige up for grabs, both races invariably attract the crème de la crème of the home team in addition to a healthy overseas challenge. Such is the case in 2026, with British and Irish yards represented in both races. Having claimed a 49th British Classic win in the 1,000 Guineas last weekend, Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien leads the charge.
Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains
Dominant in British and Irish Classics, Aidan O’Brien also boasts a formidable record in France. First successful with Landseer in 2002, O’Brien won the French 2,000 Guineas for a sixth time with Henri Matisse in 2025.
Twelve months on, he sends Puerto Rico and Dorset into battle, two horses with more in common than the places. Like Henri Matisse, both runners are sired by Wootton Bassett. Having achieved his finest hour at the track in the 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, Wootton Bassett was among the sport’s leading sires before sadly passing away in 2025.
Of the O’Brien duo, Ryan Moore opts to ride Puerto Rico, and it’s easy to see why. A late withdrawal from the English 2,000 Guineas last week, he rounded off his juvenile season with back-to-back Group 1 wins. Following in the hoofprints of his father to land the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, he then showed that he stayed a mile in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. If displaying a similar level of form on his first start at three, he may be the one they all have to beat.
Having ridden Puerto Rico in each of his Group 1 wins, Christophe Soumillon must make do with the Ballydoyle second string, Dorset, on this occasion. While he is yet to display a similar level of form to his stablemate, he rounded off 2025 with a career-best win in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes and has the benefit of a comeback outing at Leopardstown.
The sole British entry in the line-up is the Karl Burke-trained Hankelow. Going in the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, this Night Of Thunder colt won two of three juvenile starts, including the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over this trip at Newmarket. This represents a step up in class, but he could go well for a trainer who tasted French Group 1 success with Fallen Angel and Venetian Sun last season.
Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
The hosts have proven to be a tough nut to crack in the fillies’ event, with 23 of the past 25 editions falling to a runner trained in France. However, that hasn’t deterred the British and Irish trainers from taking a shot at the prize in 2026.
Achieving his sole success with Rose Gypsy in 2001, Aidan O’Brien will have high hopes of doubling his tally with the unbeaten Diamond Necklace. This beautifully bred daughter of French 2,000 Guineas winner St Mark’s Basilica received a rave review from Christophe Soumillon following her win in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac. A perfect three from three in her juvenile campaign, she boasts leading claims on her return to Longchamp. The Hollie Doyle-ridden Venosa completes the O’Brien team but needs to improve on all known form to figure.
Half Sovereign joins Hankelow on the trip from Yorkshire to represent Karl Burke in this contest. Winning five of seven starts during a prolific two-year-old season, she enjoyed a successful trip to France when claiming the Group 3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly in October. She needs to leave a poor comeback outing at Deauville well behind, but may have simply needed the run.
The most interesting of the three British runners is the Simon & Ed Crisford representative Zanthos. Winning two of three starts last season, her final effort in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes reads particularly well. Second and fifth that day, The Prettiest Star and Touleen, finished fourth and sixth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend.
Kevin Ryan’s Isle Of Fernandez completes the three-pronged British attack. Her sire, Lope Y Fernandez, won over the French Guineas course and distance, but the mount of Oisin Murphy has yet to show she is up to this class or stays this far.
So, a fascinating pair of contests to light up Saturday afternoon. Can Aidan O’Brien add to his Classic collection? Will one of the British trainers spring a shock? Or will the French prove too tough once again on home soil?