This week the spotlight shifts across the English Channel to France, more specifically to the leafy suburb of Paris, the Bois de Boulogne, within the historic precincts of which is to be found the Hippodrome de Longchamp, home of the French Guineas. Both are contested at the 1600 m. trip on the same afternoon. At 3:08 p.m. CET (7:38 p.m. in India) on Sunday, May 10^th, it will be the turn of the colts to vie for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas, followed by the fillies in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas at 4:15 p.m. CET (8:45 p.m. in India).

As many as 18 colts have been declared for the €550,000 colts classic, which include the supplemented Karar (by Invincible Spirit), the mount of Frankie Dettori and one of a pair owned by Al Shaqab Racing – the other being the English-trained Smaih (by Paco Boy) from Richard Hannon's establishment in Wiltshire, England. With only 2 starts under his belt, Karar might need more seasoning but is highly regarded at home and is likely to be in the leading group in the early part of the race,

Amongst the better prospects is the AON Greenham Stakes winner, Muhaarar (by Oasis Dream), the second of the half-dozen overseas raiders, but he has had the misfortune of being drawn widest of all and it will be tough for Paul Hanagan to get cover for the consistent colt without compromising his chances. "Obviously we could have fared better with the draw, but we can't do anything about that" said his Lambourn-based trainer, Charlie Hills.

The next highest rated runner, and the likely favourite, is Make Believe (by Makfi) from the Chantilly yard of Andre Fabre. Unbeaten from 2 starts at 2, the colt went under in a photo on his seasonal reappearance in the Prix Djebel last month, but could well come on for the run. Olivier Peslier has been booked to steer Prince A.A. Faisal's colt.

A visitor from Newmarket is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Godolphin hope, Maftool (by Hard Spun), who comes here straight from his runner-up effort in the UAE Derby via a spell in the quarantine barn. He may well need the run.

Kevin Ryan teams up with Andrea Atzeni to attempt to surprise with Flaming Spear (by Lope De Vega) who shocked his connections when running last on his seasonal reappearance in April, having won a maiden at York last year. He would shock many more were he to win here! David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, volunteered that "it was very much the ground that beat Flaming Spear at Newbury and he has been working very well since then"

Which brings us to Irish ace, Aidan O'Brien, who has distilled his original list of five entries for this event down to two, Highland Reel (by Galileo), entrusted to Ryan Moore, and War Envoy (by War Front), partnered by old India hand, Colm O'Donoghue (who won the race in 2007 through Astronomer Royal). This season has been very much like the proverbial curate's egg – good in parts – for Ballydoyle which enjoyed important victories through the likes of Gleneagles and Hans Holbein but also endured flops with Found and Qualify and Sir Isaac Newton, to name a few.

Although unraced for 284 days, Highland Reel is sufficiently well regarded at home to be worthy of support in what is otherwise a somewhat modest field quality-wise – more so if the price is right.

Just 14 of the original 157 entered in the €450,000 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches have stood their ground and this prize seems destined to remain in France. The foreign-trained brigade, consisting solely of Irish Rookie (by Azamour) from Martyn Meade's Newmarket barn, and Royal Razalma (by Lope de Vaga), an inmate of the Jonathan Portman yard in Lambourn, does not seem up to the mark.

One has to go back to the unbeaten Zarkava in 2008 to find the last Aga Khan-owned filly to triumph in this race but that leading owner has every chance for a repeat victory this time around through the home-bred Ervedya (by Siyouni). As the winner of her trial, the Prix Imprudence early last month, she demonstrated she continues to be in good nick. Christophe Soumillon, also associated with Zarkava, will carry on his partnership with Jean-Claude Rouget's ward.

Perhaps the stiffest challenge to Ervedya will come from Ameenah (by American Post), who finished runner-up behind that filly in the Imprudence. It all depends on how much fuel her trainer, Frederic Rossi, has left in the tank with which to wring out improvement. Franck Blondel is her assigned pilot.

Mexican Gold (by Medaglia d'Oro), who is schooled like the talented Flintshire by Andre Fabre for the Juddmonte operation has a decent chance of retaining her unbeaten record, consisting of a course-and-distance victory in the Prix de la Grotte last month and a maiden win last term.

Elie Lellouche's Queen Bee (by Le Havre) has been quite consistent as has Blissie (by Dansili), who will see Frankie Dettori donning the Wertheimer silks for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. Mme. Criquette Head's Fontanelice (by Vale Of York) was terrific at two but is well held on this year's form with both Ervedya and Mexican Gold holding superior claims.