Pius heads French bid

Aidan O'Brien's Guineas expedition to Newmarket ended in disaster but he will be hoping that Antonius Pius has better luck in this Sunday's French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp.

The Ballydoyle team will be represented in all three of the Group One races at the Paris track with the Leopardstown winner Royal Tigress being lined up for the 1,000 Guineas (Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches).

However, Antonius Pius will lead the raiding party in the Poule D'Essai Des Poulains as he tries to reverse placings with American Post from last month's Prix Fontainbleau.

"We are also thinking of running either Book Of Kings or Esperanto in the Prix Lupin," O'Brien said yesterday. Before that O'Brien will be at York on Wednesday where he plans to run the Royal Lodge runner-up Moscow Ballet in the Group Two Dante Stakes. The 10-furlong race is a traditional Derby trial and O'Brien said yesterday: "He will improve for the run but he is in good form."

The 2,000 Guineas third Azamour is unlikely to take his chance in the Epsom Derby. He is instead likely to run next in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday week.

"At this stage, I would say he would be doubtful for the Derby because of the trip, but because of the Aga's affinity for the race we haven't completely ruled it out yet," said his trainer, John Oxx, yesterday.

Christy Roche is attacking the second day of the Killarney Festival in some strength with the former November Handicap winner Calladine an interesting contender for the Beginners Chase. The two-mile trip will be short of his best but he does bring a degree of class to proceedings.