Walker sends Blessing abroad in search of Listed glory

Ed Walker sends Indian Blessing into central France on Monday, where he hopes the filly can seize a chance to secure a first Listed victory.

The daughter of Sepoy has finished third behind Frankel and Midday's daughter Mori, and fourth in two runs at Listed level in Britain and now faces seven opponents for the Prix Madam Couturie over the same mile and a quarter distance.

Walker said: "Indian Blessing is a smart filly. She ran very well at Goodwood behind Mori, when we felt that day she was too far off the pace and could've finished closer.

"Then we rode her closer at Newbury and there was a 30mph headwind which put paid to her. It was won by Elas Ruby, a much stouter-bred filly who outstayed everybody. I think it rode more like a mile and a half race than a mile and a quarter."

Franck Blondel rides Indian Blessing, whose opponents include representatives from the stables of Andre Fabre, Jean-Claude Rouget and Freddy Head.

Walker added: "I hope the ground will be suitably quick at Vichy. She's stakes placed and we're hoping she can be a stakes winner. She's pretty useful.

"I think she's up to winning a Listed race in England and we're travelling so far only because of a lack of immediate options. It's her last opportunity to run in a ten-furlong three-year-olds only fillies' race."