French 1000 and 2000 Guineas Preview 2022

The first selection from ParisLongchamp on Sunday comes in the French 1000 Guineas and we believe Aidan O'Brien has a superb chance with Toy.

The three year old daughter of Galileo has been seen three times to date, improving massively with every run and now looks a big threat stepping up to Group One company for the first time.

Seen once as a juvenile she finished second of 24 at the Curragh in October over seven furlongs on soft ground, showing plenty of ability.

Saved for her three year old campaign she raced over the same course and distance and was a 1/2 length second to a nice type for Joseph O'Brien.

With the pipes now fully opened she got off the mark last time out when a five length winner of a maiden at Cork over 7f.

The step up to a mile is sure to suit and handling quicker conditions than she has previously, it could bring more improvement.

The other feature event on the ParisLongchamp card is the French 2000 Guineas and we have picked out two horses out of the 16 runner field that could go close.

The first is the Charlie Appleby trained Modern Games for Charlie Appleby who is looking to pick up his second Classic event of the season.

Modern Games holds leading form claims in this event having his first run of the season off the back of a sensational juvenile campaign.

Needing his first experience on a racecourse at Haydock, he learnt plenty and got off the mark at the second time of asking at Newmarket over 7f.

Sent to Leicester he was a narrow second to Leicester with the ground having a bit of juice in the ground, but he returned to winning ways in a Nursery Handicap at Doncaster.

Rounding off his season in England he scored again at Newmarket in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes, taking his first black type event.

Appleby sent him to the Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar off the back of that run for his first taste of Group One Company and under a superb ride by William Buick he went on to land the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Proven over a mile and at the highest level, if fully wound up for it which he will be, he could be tough to beat.

As an each way selection for the big race we are siding with the Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Claymore, who has some big form with Native Trail that could be worth a lot in this sphere.

The son of New Bay looks a very nice three year old only costing £10,000 and on his debut showed bundles of ability.

Racing at Newmarket in October, he went on to see off the Charlie Appleby trained and Godolphin owned Noble Order who has since franked the form.

Saved for his campaign this term, he made his seasonal debut in the Group Three Craven Stakes and was a good second behind the English 2000 Guineas second and champion two year old Native Trail.

Claymore should come on for that run and looks a big player around the 5 or 6/1 mark.