'She’s going to run well' - have the French finally got one who can repel the raiders in the Prix de Royallieu?

When the Prix de Royallieu was promoted to Group 1 level in 2019, an extra two furlongs was added to the distance and, in six editions since, the home team has failed to post a victory.

Whether that losing streak can be broken might rest squarely with the two trainers who have dominated the Group 1 scene in France this season, Francis Graffard and Andre Fabre.

Graffard saddles Latakia, an imposing Juddmonte filly who didn't make her debut until the start of her four-year-old season but flashed real quality in making it three wins from four starts in the Group 2 Prix Alec Head at Deauville over 1m4½f.

That was on much quicker ground than the daughter of Frankel will encounter here but her Group 2-winning dam, Castellar, had plenty of form on slower going and Latakia has the physique to get through it.

In the Fabre corner is Indalimos, who has form with several of these rivals from her win in the three-year-olds-only Prix Lady O'Reilly over the Deauville 1m4½f.

The Sir Mark Prescott-trained Consent ties several strands of form together. She chased home Indalimos in that race and was then just touched off by Santorini Star, who seems to be progressing at a rate of knots, in the Park Hill Stakes over half a furlong further than this trip.

Santorini Star holds off Consent to win the Park Hill under Tom Marquand

Santorini Star (blue) just edges Consent in the Park Hill at Doncaster last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Santorini Star's trainer William Haggas may have crossed a black cat somewhere before the draws were made for his Sunday runners at Longchamp. While stall ten of 12 is not ideal for this filly, it should be less of an issue over this sort of trip. Haggas has won the race twice since the change of conditions in 2019.

Aidan O'Brien took the honours with Grateful 12 months ago and Bedtime Story leads a two-pronged challenge this time.

Like several of her rivals, Bedtime Story could have run instead in Sunday's Prix de l'Opera over 1m2f. She suffered a series of unfortunate defeats at that distance before stepping up to a mile and a half last time, finishing third behind Aventure and Gezora and just holding off Survie.

Christophe Soumillon rides Bedtime Story for the first time and Dylan Browne McMonagle is on Island Hopping, who was third in the Listed Oyster Stakes at Galway last time.

What they say

Nicolas Clement, joint-trainer of Survie
She's really a mile-and-a-half filly but after discussing it with her owners we felt she'd be better going up in trip rather than down and the opposition will be less fierce than in the Opera. She ran very well in the Vermeille, where she was only just beaten for third.

Francis Graffard, trainer of Latakia
She keeps improving and we've found her some races to build her up gradually. The distance and the ground should be fine and she's in great form.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Shaha
She's relatively lightly raced and ran a good race last time to be second to Estrange in the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock. She's had a break since then but has trained well. The step up in trip should suit her and so would some ease in the ground.

William Haggas, trainer of Santorini Star
She’s drawn a bit wide but she’s a useful filly and is in form, so hopefully she’ll run well.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Indalimos
She won in good style at Deauville and she’s progressive. I don’t think the distance will be a problem and the softer ground should even be a help to her. She’s going to run well.

Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Consent
She has run a little better each time on the ratings in a light career. She’s got form with all the fancied ones apart from Survie. It may come down to who gets lucky on the day or who's at their very best.

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2.25 Ascot: will it be an Al Qareem hat-trick or is Hamish ready to thwart him in a battle of two old warriors in Cumberland Lodge?

2.40 Newmarket: 'A repeat of her run in the spring will put her bang there' - can Cinderella's Dream end a 22-year hoodoo for Godolphin in the Sun Chariot?

3.00 Ascot: 'This is a stepping stone to the British Champions Sprint' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Group 3 Bengough Stakes

3.35 Ascot: 'From what we’ve seen in the mornings he should be bang there' - who fancies their chances in a typically competitive Challenge Cup?

4.35 Gowran: rapidly improving Galway Plate winner back in action - but Gordon Elliott voices concerns ahead of four-timer bid