Lady Out To Bounce Back

Sir Mark Prescott is expecting a bold show from Confidential Lady in the Prix de Diane Hermes at Chantilly on Sunday if recent exertions have not taken the edge off the Stan James 2000 Guineas runner-up.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned filly got within two and a half lengths of Speciosa in the Newmarket Classic and looked to have stolen a march on her rivals in the Irish version two weeks ago.

The daughter of Singspiel led until the final two furlongs that day but weakened towards the finish and could only take sixth place under Seb Sanders.

She now steps up to 10 and a half furlongs and faces 15 rivals in the Chantilly showpiece.

'She seems very well. I am quite surprised as I thought she had a hard race in the Guineas and in Ireland, but she seems fine and mathematically she has got an excellent chance, as long as these hardish races haven't blunted her a bit,' said the Heath House handler.

'Any time you have a beaten favourite in a Classic you are disappointed. She has won on very heavy but I just wonder if we went a bit quick in the ground that day (at the Curragh) ? not that it was in any way the jockey's fault.

'We were pushed along a bit and had hoped for an easier lead so we went a bit quicker than we wanted.

'I feel she will be better over a bit further and this is two and a half furlongs further, but it does look a very competitive race this year.

'She is fully entitled to be there and I am hopeful she will run well ? she doesn't mind the fast ground and I think she will get the trip. But we won't know until she runs if the two tough races have blunted her.'

? PA Sport