O'Brien trio make French connection

Aidan O’Brien fields three as he goes in search of more Group One glory in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Monday evening.

The Ballydoyle handler already has 12 top-level victories to his name this season and saddles Alessandro Volta, Bashkirov and William Hogarth in the Juddmonte-sponsored affair.

Johnny Murtagh, enjoying a dream first campaign as O’Brien’s retained jockey, has chosen Alessandro Volta, who was leading inside the final furlong of the Irish Derby before causing havoc by jinking sharply left.

Arguably worst affected at the Curragh was Luca Cumani’s Curtain Call, who is once again in opposition.

O’Brien said: “We have gone with three in the race – Alessandro Volta, Bashkirov and William Hogarth.

“Johnny rides Alessandro Volta, Seamus (Heffernan) is on Bashkirov and Colm O’Donoghue rides the other one.

“They are all in good form.”

Epsom Derby fourth Doctor Fremantle will be looking to score for Sir Michael Stoute in Prince Khalid Abdullah’s silks.

Abdullah won the contest last year with Zambezi Sun.

Additional British interest lay with John Gosden’s Centennial, while Andre Fabre’s Prospect Wells appears best of the home contingent.

Grand Prix de Paris

Coral bet: 7-2 Doctor Fremantle, Prospect Wells, 4-1 Alessandro Volta, 5-1 Curtain Call, 11-2 Montmartre, 9-1 Cima De Triomphe, 16-1 Magadan, 18-1 Bashkirov, 28-1 Centennial, 33-1 Americain, 66-1 William Hogarth, 150-1 Sindajan