Burke looking to Chantilly ace for more French glory

KARL BURKE heads to France in search of more euros when Ellthea runs in the Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly today.

Stablemate Laurens was a Group One winner at Longchamp last Sunday and the North Yorkshire trainer again appears to have strong claims in the Group Two over a mile.

Ellthea was only beaten two lengths in the French 1000 Guineas – her first run of the campaign – and was also a Group Three winner in Ireland last year.

‘I’ve been very pleased with her and this has been her target since we ran her in the Pouliches (French Guineas),’ said Burke (above). ‘She goes there in good form and probably strips a bit fitter given that was her first run of the season there last time, so we’re hopeful of a big run. She was only beaten two lengths, it was a great run and she didn’t get the best of runs round. She ran a bit fresh and was a bit keen for Jim (Crowley).’ Ellthea will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas aboard Alpha Centauri last Sunday. Burke added: ‘Any more rain would be in her favour, the softer the ground the better. They are calling it soft and there’s been thunderstorms around so any more of them would be a big bonus.” Altyn Orda, fifth in the English 1000 Guineas for Roger Varian, is also one of the seven runners.