Dolniya camp wary of Epsom challenge Alain de Royer-Dupre admits to having concerns about whether Dolniya will handle the demanding Epsom terrain in the Investec Coronation Cup. The four-year-old is set to go off as a hot favourite for the Group One contest on her first start since a scintillating display in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in late March. The leading French trainer is delighted with his filly's condition and is keeping his fingers crossed her talent shines through. "Dolniya needed time to get over her trip to Dubai and was just about ready to run a month ago in the Prix Ganay only for the ground to go soft - so I withdrew her," said Royer-Dupre. "She has improved a lot in the weeks since then and looks perfect now. "The main question with her is how she will handle the undulations at Epsom as although she has good balance, she is a very big filly. "She certainly has the class if trying to deal with the course does not take too much out of her. She is a very easy ride and can make the running if necessary." The biggest threat to the market leader is her old rival and compatriot Flintshire. The Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old was runner-up behind another French star in Cirrus Des Aigles in last year's Coronation Cup and has this season chased home Dolniya at Chantilly and Meydan. Fabre said: "Flintshire looks good but might just be a bit short of work prior to Saturday as he has not had a race since March. "I had to choose between running him here and going for the Grand Prix de Chantilly, but that is only a Group Two and in the end the ground came up soft, which he hates, so I am happy that I have made the correct decision to wait for this. "Dolniya is obviously the mare to beat but Flintshire has the advantage of knowing the course. "I am a bit worried about the possibility of a slow pace but, although it might not be a furious gallop, it should not make a difference as long as he is ridden quite prominently." Flintshire carries the colours of leading owner Khalid Abdullah, whose racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe is hoping the rain stays away. He said: "He's in good form. He's got to turn round the form on Dolniya, but he's in great shape and Prince Khalid was keen to let him take his chance. "I don't think he wants any rain as he's better on faster ground, he has a nice turn of foot. We know he handles Epsom, as he was pretty rusty after running at the Dubai World Cup the previous year, but he's come back in good form." The French challengers are taken on by a quartet of home-trained runners, headed by last year's St Leger runner-up Romsdal for John Gosden and Godolphin. David Simcock runs the globetrotting Sheikhzayedroad, who won a Grade One in Canada last year but was well beaten by Dolniya in Dubai. Champion trainer Richard Hannon saddles Pether's Moon, who also faces a tough task against the French horses. "Though Pether's Moon has plenty to find on official ratings, he is guaranteed to come back with some prize-money, and he could even finish in the frame," the Wiltshire handler told his website. "He ran a smashing race in the John Porter and had plenty on his plate subsequently in the Jockey Club Stakes. "And though this is his first time at Epsom, he has won twice at Goodwood, so I'd be hopeful that he would cope with the undulations." Recent Goodwood scorer Ayrad has been taken out on account of the ground.
