A Royal Sunday at ParisLongchamp

A sumptuous Sunday awaits us on 26 April at ParisLongchamp! The undoubted highlight of the day will be the Prix Ganay World Pool by PMU (Group 1), at 4:25 p.m., which will set the stage for Daryz’s eagerly anticipated return. Crowned last year in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1), the Aga Khan Studs champion, trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard, will be the focus of all attention on his seasonal comeback. But his rivals are ready to put him to the test from the outset. The only mare in the field, Aventure, who did not show her true form in the last Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, returns fresh and with unfinished business. The same applies to Arrow Eagle, the impressive winner of the Prix Royal Oak (Group 1) just twenty days after finishing sixth in the “Arc”. Facing these high-class horses making their return, others arrive already race-fit. Bright Picture, unbeaten this year, will try to make the most of his advanced condition, while Cualificar is expected to improve on his comeback run. First Look, who has already raced twice this year, will have nothing to lose.

At 1:58 p.m., the Prix de Barbeville (Group 3) will get proceedings under way, with a genuine duel as the backdrop. Double Major, a dual Group 1 winner, renews rivalry with Asmarani, who has beaten him in their last two encounters and has now established himself as one of the new benchmarks among the stayers. The race will also mark the return to French soil of globetrotter Présage Nocturne. Winner of this race last year, he has since travelled abroad, taking in Australia and then Saudi Arabia, and returns with ambitions. Espoir Avenir will be looking to make amends after a rather lacklustre performance at Saint-Cloud, while Rashford will try to take advantage of the slightest misstep.