'Nashwa is bigger and better' - Doyle excited by Group 1 chances on Arc day

Hollie Doyle may be without a ride in the Arc, but she heads to Longchamp with chances on two Group 1 favourites and is relishing the "amazing" opportunity to partner both Nashwa and The Platinum Queen on Sunday.

The biggest day of Doyle's career came when Nashwa won the Prix de Diane at Chantilly in June and she cannot wait to return to France with the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly, who has impressed her rider in her work building up to the Prix de l'Opera.

Meanwhile, Doyle's capability to do 8st 4lb means she has been booked to ride The Platinum Queen in the Prix de l'Abbaye. The two-year-old filly is able to run off a featherweight due to her age, but faces a monumental task as no juvenile has won the race since 1978.

The jockey, who thinks Luxembourg will win the Arc, said: "This is what it's all about. It's what you work for and do it for really, so to have chances like those is just amazing. I really appreciate it."

Nashwa will face 15 rivals in the fillies' Group 1, including Oaks heroine Tuesday and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Above The Curve, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Doyle has ridden Nashwa in all six of her starts and the pair last teamed up to take the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in impressive style in July. Imad Alsagar's filly is no bigger than 9-4 to complete a Group 1 hat-trick.

"It looks a good opportunity for her and she's in excellent form," Doyle said. "I usually ride her in the week before she runs and she's felt bigger, better and stronger every time and it's no different now.

"She's taken all the right steps in the right direction so I'm pleased with her. We're drawn in 13 which could be a bit better, but hopefully we can overcome that. We don't want any extremes with the ground, but it should be fine for her."

Only William Buick has ridden more winners in Britain in 2022 than Doyle, and her services were snapped up for the second time to ride The Platinum Queen. She guided the daughter of Cotai Glory to a creditable second-place finish in the Nunthorpe when carrying 8st 2lb and the filly filled the same spot in the Flying Childers last month with regular rider Oisin Orr on board.

The Platinum Queen is a 3-1 favourite for the Abbaye and is to take on the likes of A Case Of You and Mitbaahy, while a strong home challenge is headed by Berneuil and Coeur De Pierre.

Doyle said: "With the lightweight needed, it's great to get back on her again after riding her in the Nunthorpe. I'm not sure about the softer ground, but we'll find out. She seems to be a straightforward ride with plenty of speed, which is exactly what you need for the Abbaye. We're drawn in the middle which is okay."

Doyle is without a ride in the Prix de la Foret, where runners include Kinross, Sandrine and Tenebrism, while elsewhere on Sunday's card, The Antarctic and Kelina top the betting for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac.

Prix de l'Opera confirmed runners and riders

EbaiyraChristophe Soumillon
Rumi Olivier Peslier
Insinuendo Billy Lee
Jupyra Christophe Lemaire
My Astra Tom Marquand
Agave Bauyrzhan Murzabayev
Nashwa Hollie Doyle
Place Du Carrousel Mickael Barzalona
La Parisienne Gerald Mosse
Rosacea Stephane Pasquier
Zefania Rene Pielechuk
Above The Curve Ryan Moore
Tuesday Wayne Lordan
Trevaunance Shane Foley
Mqse de Sevigne Maxime Guyon
Fall In Love Simon Planque

Sunday's Longchamp card

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