Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 25th May 2025

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections from The Curragh & ParisLongchamp

The Curragh

GAIN Marble Hill Stakes (Group 3) 1.55
Andab
I think that this Group 3 will be between Albert Einstein and Andab, and it is Andab that I prefer. This Saxon Warrior colt is a full brother to Victoria Road, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2022 at Keeneland, and also with some success in France will be okay for this ground if the rain persists. Albert Einstein very much impressed on his debut, finishing over a length in front of Ger Lyons’ Evening Blues, but has to come from a wider draw than Andab, and I think that can make the difference. Power Blue looks an interesting one at a big price, so these are my three, with Andab having the best chance.

Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 2.30
Porta Fortuna (nap)
The outstanding filly of last year is very hard to oppose even against some race-fit rivals. She is a four-time Group One winner, and also very nearly won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last year, which just shows how deep her form is. Obviously, Porta Fortuna carries a penalty for that Group One form now into a Group 2, but I think she should be very hard to beat nonetheless. Paddy Twomey has his stable going well, and his jockey, Billy Lee has won this for the last four years, so One Look has some claims, but Porta Fortuna should be good enough.

Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) 3.05
White Birch
This is a very, very good race that has the very best middle distance horses going for this Gold Cup. Irish Derby winner, Los Angeles inflicted defeat on White Birch here already this season over 10 furlongs, but this pair are so closely matched White Birch could easily reverse those placings, especially with the extra half furlong. Andrew Balding has Kalpana, the winner of the 2024 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, and if there is more rain then this would play into her hands, plus she has Oisin Murphy this time, while Anmaat beat the brilliant French horse, Calandagan in the Champions Middle Distance Stakes at Ascot in October. This all adds up to a race of the highest quality, but White Birch here at The Curragh, over this trip, is the one I will back.

Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Fillies) 3.40
Lake Victoria
Unbeaten as a Juvenile, Lake Victoria is going to be very hard to beat here. Aidan O’Brien did think she was slow to come to hand this year, and said as much before the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, but I think that the performance was not that bad, though she was never going to win that Classic. She must at least be entitled to come on for that run, and can turn the tables on both Flight and Simmering, with the better luck in the draw to come out of Stall 3. That is where Simmering has not been so lucky, with a start in Stall 11, but Ollie Sangster’s Too Darn Hot filly is still expected to go well. Dermot Weld’s Swelter is an interesting one, with two wins at Leopardstown before this, but I can’t see past Lake Victoria to win this Classic.

ParisLongchamp

Prix du Palais-Royal (Group 3) 1.33
Beauvatier
This Group 3 can go to Beauvatier, who is easy to back at this level. He will be heading over to the Royal Ascot meeting after this, with entries in both the Queen Anne Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes to choose from, and maybe Yann Barberot’s colt will be too good for Andre Fabre’s Sajir, who is looking for the hat-trick here after winning at Newmarket last month. William Haggas’s Lake Forest has been supported this week, and Christopher Head’s Topgear is also fancied, but I will stick with Beauvatier.

Prix d’Ispahan (Group 1) 2.45
Sosie (nb)
This is a very, very good race, the Prix d’Ispahan, but I have to back Andre Fabre’s Sosie, who is no surprise as the favourite. This Sea The Stars colt took the Prix Ganay here by a neck from Map Of Stars, and although this race is one furlong shorter, he is probably too classy to let that be a negative. Maxime Guyon on Sosie must look out for the fast finishing Horizon Dore, while John & Thady Gosden’s Sardinian Warrior is one that has improved a lot, winning the Queen Anne Stakes Trial at Ascot last time out. Stablemate to Sosie, Alcantor, can put in a good run, so an Andre Fabre one-two is possible, but Sosie should be winning.

Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Group 1) 3.28
Sevenna’s Knight
Andre Fabre can double the Group One tally on Sunday with Sevenna’s Knight in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. He’s already run twice this season, over an inadequate 10 furlongs and then over a mile and a half, but now returns to his proper trip. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Candelari ran well on his first try on turf, and this Frankel gelding looks to me the big danger and although this is very different ground than Meydan, Dubai Future is a classy type on his day while Double Major was third in this race last year behind Sevenna’s Knight and tries his luck again.