River Proud heading to Longchamp

Paul Cole is eyeing a tilt at the French 2000 Guineas with River Proud after the colt ran with credit to finish fourth in the Craven Stakes on his seasonal bow.

After making much of the running on his reappearance, the colt weakened into fourth behind the likes of Twice Over and Raven’s Pass.

Despite that fine effort, Cole was slightly disappointed with how the race panned out and is hoping for a better show at Longchamp next month.

The Whatcombe handler said: “He ran well enough in the Craven but he broke away from the gate almost too well and ended up in front, where we didn’t want him to be.

“As a result he tired late on and we would have preferred to hold him up and challenge late.

“We are looking at the French Guineas for him now and we just have to hope for a bit more luck next time around.”