Robin Of Navan set for France

Harry Dunlop is set to run Bretoncelles on Lingfield's Classic trials card on Saturday, but stable star Robin Of Navan is likely to skip the meeting in favour of a trip to France.

Robin Of Navan won the Group One Criterium De Saint-Cloud last November, making it a fourth French win of the year for the American Post colt.

Dunlop has long set his sights on a French Derby tilt and is duly targeting Sunday's Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud above Saturday's Betfred Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield.

He said: "He's in the Prix Greffulhe on Sunday and Lingfield is the back-up option for him at the moment.

"He needs to have a run somewhere and he's not in the English Derby but is in the French Derby so the Prix Greffulhe, which is a trial for that race, is an obvious option.

"If something amazing were to happen at the weekend, then supplementing him for Epsom would not be completely ruled out, but he is in the French Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris and we feel on form those races are good options.

"He did a racecourse gallop at Kempton last Thursday and that went well, so we are looking forward to running him."

Robin Of Navan is not the only horse to hold entries in the cross-Channel Derby trials with the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Idaho and US Army Ranger also entered in both events. US Army Ranger is expected to run at Chester on Thursday.

The master of Ballydoyle also Beacon Rock, Cook Island, Kellstorn, Landofhopeandglory and Shogun among a total of 17 entries at Lingfield.

John Gosden's Linguistic has the option after winning a richly-endowed sales race at Newmarket, with Across The Stars and Carntop other noteworthy possibles.

Bretoncelles is one of 16 in the Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes but she is the only maiden in the field having run just twice last year.

Dunlop said: "She ran very well in a maiden here last year and she's a horse we've always had nice aspirations for.

"This is Listed level and she will have to step up, but we are hoping to steal some black type and this could be a good opportunity as the race sometimes only has a small field.

"She's a big filly, though, by a nice sire in Le Havre so we'd be hoping to get some black type with her."

O'Brien again boasts a multiple entry with How High The Moon, Seventh Heaven and Somehow, although the latter is declared for Wednesday's Cheshire Oaks.

Dessertoflife, Diamonds Pour Moi and Mirsaalah are also declared at Chester.

Charlie Hills hast two contenders in Beauly and Gypsy Eyes, with John Gosden also double-handed via Natural Beauty and Pechora.

The Group Three Betfred "Be Part of Action" Chartwell Fillies' Stakes is headed by the Kevin Ryan-trained Ashadihan, who finished second in the Albany Stakes last year but has not run since disappointing in the Lowther last August.

Light Music, Rah Rah and Quality Time are other names from the three-year-old division while All-Weather Championships Finals Day winner Volunteer Point is in the mix for the older ranks along with Marsh Hawk.

The turf track at Lingfield is currently waterlogged in places, with Friday's scheduled turf meeting already having been switched to the all-weather surface.

However, clerk of the course Edward Arkell reports a favourable forecast over the coming days, although the track will have to weather the rain that was due to arrive on Monday evening.

He said: "We are a mixture of soft and heavy with a bit of waterlogging in places.

"We are expecting further rain this evening, but we then have a predominately dry forecast for the rest of the week, which is a help.

"We will have to see what we get overnight and have a look in the morning.

"We have already transferred Friday's card to give the turf the best possible chance and the forecast is favourable at present."