Royal Ascot winner Ostilio looks to continue French success for Crisford

While Ascot takes the spotlight in Britain on Wednesday, a winner from last year's royal meeting makes the trip across the Channel to Saint-Cloud to take on seven rivals in the Group 2 Prix du Muguet (3.25).

Last year’s Britannia winner Ostilio makes his first appearance since success in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Arc weekend in October.

Ostilio won the Prix Daniel Wildenstein for Simon Crisford last OctoberCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He’s had a good winter and we’re very pleased with his progress over the past few weeks," said trainer Simon Crisford. "He travelled over well and I think the track will suit him. It’s a good race to start his season."

Chief among his rivals is the Freddy Head-trained Polydream, who was set to run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November but was ruled out after vets deemed her lame.

Head branded the decision 'a disgrace', and the four-year-old gets the chance to put that behind her and add to a CV that already contains Group 1 success in last season's Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Andre Fabre runs three, including Godolphin's four-year-old Mer Et Nuages, who was unbeaten over three runs in 2018 and was second on his comeback at Maisons-Laffitte earlier this month.

Legendary Japanese jockey Yutaka Take, who has won more than 4,000 races after 30 years in the saddle, rides Geniale in the Group 2 and the Josephine Soudan-trained Agnes in the Group 3 Prix Penelope (1.35).

Rivals in the £72,072 race will include the Fabre-trained pair Secret Walk, winner of only sole start for Coolmore in March, and Romanciere, who finished two lengths behind Line Of Duty in the Group 3 Prix de Conde in October.

The Prix Penelope is a stepping stone to the Prix de Diane, while the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe (4.35) is a trial for Prix du Jockey Club candidates, and this year it looks a tight contest.

Starmaniac bids for a hat-trick for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias, while Godolphin's Roman Candle looks to build on his third in the Prix la Force three weeks ago.

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