O'Brien holds the aces as exciting Blackbeard bids for Prix Morny glory

Darley Prix Morny (Group 1) | 2yo | 6f | SKY

When there is a change of emphasis at Ballydoyle, the repercussions can be felt far and wide.

A record 17 wins in the Phoenix Stakes tells you where Aidan O'Brien's best midsummer talents have been aimed, while of the four Coolmore runners to win or be placed in the Morny over the last decade, No Nay Never and Hootenanny were trained by Wesley Ward, while last year's runner-up Trident hailed from Andre Fabre's yard.

O'Brien has made less of a priority of the Morny in years when he has not had the extraordinary strength in depth he boasts in the division this year. Little Big Bear has grabbed the lion's share of the headlines but Blackbeard and The Antarctic, highly rated in their own right, have been sent to France for lead-up races that O'Brien has largely ignored historically, and they finished one-two in the Prix Robert Papin.

The Antarctic then returned to France and disposed of his rivals in the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg, a race in which O'Brien had never previously had a runner.

This domination of the prep races partly explains why no French-based trainer has felt it worth running in the country's first juvenile Group 1 of the year.

Blackbeard was clearly superior to his stablemate in the Papin and although the French handicapper raised The Antarctic by 3lb for his win in the Cabourg, he still faces a big task to turn round the Chantilly form.

Persian Force finished seven lengths adrift of Little Big Bear in the Phoenix but there are sound reasons for Richard Hannon to believe that the Coventry runner-up did not give his true running.

Richard Fahey and Christophe Soumillon teamed up to win this with Perfect Power 12 months ago and the same combination are represented by Norfolk Stakes winner The Ridler. The horses who filled the places at Ascot have not done too much to advertise the form, but The Ridler looks as though he will appreciate an extra furlong.

Manhattan Jungle, the only filly in the race, ran on well from off the pace to be only a length adrift of The Antarctic in the Cabourg. While pari-mutuel and fixed-odds punters will make her the fifth of five, she has earned her place in the line-up.

Fahey and Soumillon out to repeat the trick with The Ridler

It cost a little more than a million guineas to buy Blackbeard and The Antarctic, while Amo Racing paid €225,000 to secure Persian Force, but The Ridler is expertly tailored from less expensive cloth.

Bred by Hilary Fitzsimmons from Brazen Beau's £7,000 covering fee and out of a mare who cost £2,500, he bids to take his breeder and co-owner Steve Bradley from the Ascot winner's enclosure into the Group 1 arena.

The Ridler: impressive Royal Ascot winner stepping up to six furlongsCredit: Alex Livesey

The Ridler made headlines for all the wrong reasons having drifted a long way left in the Norfolk Stakes but still demonstrated a very smart turn of foot, while an extra furlong looks likely to bring about further improvement.

"I'm looking forward to stepping him up to six," said Fahey. "We gave him a little break as he'd had four runs. This is his race because he needs to be running in Group 1s and the Phoenix would have come quick enough. The break has done him the world of good."

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Persian Force
I was amazed by the race in Ireland. I was staggered that something could beat him that far. This is a good opportunity for him, he's a very good horse and I hope he's able to show it on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Blackbeard and The Antarctic
Blackbeard won very nicely at Chantilly on his last run and this has been the plan with him since. He came out of that race well. The Antarctic ran a good race behind Blackbeard and bounced out really well to win at this track last time. He's been in good form since and hopefully will give another good account of himself.

Amy Murphy, trainer of Manhattan Jungle
She's in good form. It's going to take a jump up to beat the boys but she deserves her place and there aren't a lot of sprint options for her which almost forces her here. It's not going to be run like a French race and there will be no hiding place.

Sunday's race previews:

2.50 Deauville: The racing world will be watching as Verry Elleegant takes to the European stage

4.00 Naas: British challenge may hold the key to tricky Ballyogan Stakes puzzle

4.12 Sandown: 'He loves Sandown and is in top form' - which trainer hopes for a bold show?

6.42 Sandown: Can Keith Dalgleish sign off in style in the Sunday Series finale at Sandown?

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