Paris calling for Cork scorer Magny Cours

Magny Cours booked her ticket for the Prix de la Foret on the Arc undercard after running out an impressive winner of the Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear Stakes at Cork.

Daniel McLoughlin’s three-year-old filly had contested the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May after finishing runner-up to True Love in trial at Leopardstown in April only to run too keen and finish down the field.

But returned to seven furlongs, she was sent off 9-1 under Ben Coen before routing a decent line up by two and a half lengths to tee-up a return to the top table at ParisLongchamp on the first Sunday in October.

“On her run in Leopardstown she showed what she’s capable of, especially when she’s able to get her toe in,” said McLoughlin. “It’s brilliant when a plan works out. It’s been a long wait on the weather. I was hoping that it would be worth it and it was, it was more than worth it.

“Ben gave her an excellent ride, sat on her the whole way. Sometimes when she gets there she doesn’t really go away as well as she did there today. But she put that to bed very professionally.”

McLoughlin outlined the plans for the remainder of the season and it is very much all systems go for the Foret where she could encounter ideal conditions.

He added: “I was looking at her today and she’s really strengthened up and is a good-sized filly now. I’d say she’s really coming into herself, from now and for the rest of the year. I took her out of the Matron over a mile. Ben thinks seven is her trip.

“She was second in France last year in the Prix Miesque. I heard Michael (O’Callaghan) saying after the last race that he had his horse (Bamako Beach) entered for the Prix de la Foret and she holds an entry as well.

“She’ll have to take on the colts but it’s seven furlongs. She’s been to France and she enjoys the style of racing over there. The owner enjoys runners in France. It ticks a lot of boxes, with the ground and stuff.

“It could be worth taking a chance over there and it could be an exciting end to the year with a bit of luck. Today is as relieved as I’ve been and it’s as good a kick as I’ve got out of any winner to be honest.

“Obviously, I had a Group Three winner earlier on in the year but that was massive today.”

Likedbymike landed the odds as 11-4 favourite under Colin Keane in the supporting Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes.

The Listed success gave trainer Michael Byrne a day to remember as his charge triumphed by a neck from Erosandpscyche with Focaccia in third.

“That’s unbelievable. It means everything really. This doesn’t happen too often to us,” said Byrne. “She deserved that, she’s been knocking on the door a good few times. She won her maiden here so she obviously loves it here.

“We gave her a break after she won in Naas and it probably did her good. She got great confidence from winning in Naas, it was a nice handy run. We’ve only two horses to run and we ran the two of them today.

“There is a fillies Listed race at the Curragh at the start of next month so that’s probably where we’ll go next.”