'We'll see what she's made of' - Tudhope excited about Illustrating at Longchamp

Danny Tudhope travels to Longchamp on Thursday with high hopes that flying filly Illustrating can make it three wins from four starts in the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg (2.52), a race which has attracted four other runners from across the English Channel.

The Karl Burke-trained daughter of Showcasing was asked a serious question when turned out 12 days after her debut success at Catterick to contest the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she finished seventh.

While that may have come a little early in her education, she made no mistake when landing a conditions race at Goodwood last time, with the reopposing Canonized back in third.

"We were really pleased with her at Goodwood, she was very impressive," said Tudhope. "We're 100 per cent happy with her, it's another big step up and we'll see what she's made of."

Burke is also represented by Guilded, the mount of Ioritz Mendizabal, who is one of two runners to carry the colours of Nick Bradley Racing. The other is Corazon, who will be making a first start on turf after breaking her maiden for trainer George Boughey at Lingfield last month.

Dizzy Bizu won her first two starts over 5f and returns to the minimum trip at Longchamp on ThursdayCredit: Scott Burton/Racing Post

France's two-year-olds have not been completely dominated by the visitors this summer, as has sometimes been the case, and Dizzy Bizu looks to build on a promising second in the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg. That run has sinced been boosted by the subsequent efforts of third-placed Trident, who finished runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Morny last month.

Dizzy Bizu's trainer Stephane Wattel said: "She showed a lot of natural speed at the start of her career, but obviously dropping back in trip on good ground is the slight unknown.

"I would probably have been more comfortable at 1,200 metres [six furlongs], but she is ready to run and, if there is plenty of pace on, I think her turn of foot could come into play late on."

With a view to Arc weekend, the Group 3 Prix de Lutece (6.50) is the next step along the rode for the three-year-old stayers bound for the Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend.

Of at least as much interest is the Listed Prix de Liancourt (6.20), and the reappearance of the exciting Sibila Spain, last seen when leading the entire Prix de Diane field until the final 100 metres at Chantilly in June.

Christopher Head's stable star faces just four rivals and will have Olivier Peslier aboard for the first time.

"She's ready for this and will be perfect come the Prix de l'Opera," said Head. "It's still a race and she needs to run to prepare for the big one.

"The 2,000 metres [mile and a quarter] of the Opera is her distance, and although this is 100 metres further, Longchamp has the downhill stretch so that should help her in a way that Chantilly didn't just at the end."

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