O'Brien three in French 1000 Guineas mix

Aidan O'Brien has three chances of landing his second Abu Dhabi Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) at Deauville on Saturday.

The Ballydoyle handler's only success in this race came back in 2001 with Rose Gypsy, and he relies this time on Roly Poly, Rain Goddess and Smoulder.

Roly Poly, winner of the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last summer, heads the team and is fit from a prep run in the Nell Gwyn last month.

"Roly Poly ran well in Newmarket. She got a little bit laboured in the middle of the race, she was a little bit ring-rusty, and then she stayed on at the end of it," said O'Brien.

"Rain Goddess ran well at Newbury (when fourth in the Fred Darling)."

Connections of Senga expect the daughter of Blame to be cherry ripe in her bid for Classic glory.

The Pascal Bary-trained filly ended last term with a creditable fourth to the Godolphin-owned Wuheida in the Prix Marcel Boussac and got 2017 off to a good start with victory in a Group Three over a mile at Chantilly last month.

"She's in good form. She learnt a lot in the Prix de la Grotte. She was a little underdone that day and has come on nicely and should be spot on for Saturday," said Alan Cooper, racing manager for owners Flaxman Stables.

"It is the second time this is being run on the straight track and John Gosden's filly (Nathrah) was second from the same draw of 14 last year and there are a lot of good horses on the outside this year.

"She's a nice, big, strong filly and we hope she can go forwards as the year goes on."

William Haggas is double-handed with the unbeaten Cristal Fizz and Sea Of Grace, who was fifth in the Nell Gwyn on her reappearance.

However, the Newmarket trainer would have preferred softer conditions for his two contenders.

"I could have done with a bit more rain, there's not been enough, but they are both fit and well and should hopefully run well in what is a big, competitive field," he said.

Toulifaut attempts to give trainer Jean-Claude Rouget a fourth successive win in the fillies' Classic after Avenir Certain, Ervedya and La Cressonniere.