Homeless Songs ruled out of French 1,000 Guineas as Weld plots Curragh bid

Ante-post favourite Homeless Songs will not contest Sunday's French 1,000 Guineas after being removed from the race at Tuesday's forfeit stage, with Dermot Weld now plotting a tilt at the Irish equivalent for the high-class filly.

BoyleSports had priced Homeless Songs as the 9-4 market leader to turn over Newmarket scorer Cachet, but the Classic picture at Longchamp was given a shake-up after a potential field of 19 stood their ground for the Emirates-sponsored prize.

Speaking to the Racing Post on Tuesday morning, Weld said: "We've decided to wait for the Irish 1,000 Guineas with Homeless Songs. I'm happy with the filly but I just wanted to wait for the Curragh with her."

Homeless Songs: will bid to provide Dermot Weld with a fifth win in the Irish 1,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Cachet remains on course for her bid to become only the second filly to do the British-French 1,000 Guineas double this century after Special Duty, who was the promoted winner of both races in 2010.

Promising Prix de la Grotte winner Rosacea also featured in the possible field, as well as the Aidan O'Brien-trained Toy, who is bred in the purple as a sister to Gleneagles and other top performers such as Joan Of Arc and Marvellous.

"Toy is from a fantastic family," said O'Brien. "They're not slow and, while it looks like she'll get the mile quite well, I think she could be even better over ten furlongs."

He added: "We raced her over seven furlongs and from a bad draw purposely at Cork, just to see whether she would be able to do it with a view towards the French Guineas, and I thought she did it well."

Jumbly, second on her latest start in the Dubai Duty Free-backed Fred Darling Stakes, is also in the mix for Harry and Roger Charlton. The third and sixth from that Group 3, Majestic Glory and Heat Of The Moment, also remain in contention for Andrew Balding and Jane Chapple-Hyam respectively.

Hermana Estrella, representing Fozzy Stack, is set to return for the first time since winning on her debut in Group 3 company last May.

There are still 22 colts in contention for the French 2,000 Guineas on the same card, with Charlie Appleby bidding for a first win in the race through Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf scorer Modern Games.

Modern Games: Breeders' Cup winner in contention for the Emirates Poule d'Essai des PoulainsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Criterium International hero Angel Bleu is in line to seek a third Group 1 success on French soil for Ralph Beckett, while Britain could also be represented by last season's Champagne Stakes winner Bayside Boy (Roger Varian), Craven Stakes second Claymore (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Dee Stakes runner-up Cresta (Martyn Meade).

Aidan O'Brien, who plundered the prize last year with St Mark's Basilica, relies solely on The Acropolis, a creditable second to Dr Zempf in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown last month.

"We thought the world of him last year but I couldn't get him to do anything," said O'Brien.

"We were delighted with him at Leopardstown. I don't think we'll overrace him this year – maybe we did that a little last year – and it'll be interesting to see what he does here. He's got plenty of speed, so he shouldn't have any problem around Longchamp."

Ground conditions at Longchamp were described as good to firm, good in places on Tuesday, with a largely dry forecast over the coming days.

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