Love Faces Dangerous Rivals Dropping for Blandford

She had group 1 options at Leopardstown and ParisLongchamp this weekend but Aidan O'Brien has opted to drop star filly Love down to group 2 company for the Sept. 12 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh, although it still represents a proper test.

Winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) on her seasonal return before finishing third behind Adayar  and Mishriff  in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot, Love was below her best when filling in for the sidelined St Mark's Basilica  in the Juddmonte International (G1) last month.

"We wanted to fit Love in somewhere to give her a run this weekend and this race suited her. She goes there in good form," O'Brien said.

The 118-rated 4-year-old sets a clear standard on ratings, although this is no formality with Thundering Nights  a winner at the highest level in the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) over Sunday's course and distance of 1 1/4 miles in June.

Joseph O'Brien's contender has been an improved performer this season.

"This course and distance seems to suit Thundering Nights and she's in good form," said the younger O'Brien.

Thundering Nights was not beaten far when third in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) last time when last year's winner of this race Cayenne Pepper  was 2 3/4 lengths further back in fifth.

There were 2 1/2 lengths between the pair when Jessica Harrington's representative was third in the Pretty Polly and it will be interesting to see whether the application of cheekpieces for the first time brings about improvement for Cayenne Pepper.

Although she has yet to be tested above group 3 level, the Paddy Twomey-trained La Petite Coco  rates a serious player on the evidence of her emphatic Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes (G3) success last month. Now rated 110 and receiving nine pounds from Love and Thundering Nights, she should be bang there if she proves as effective dropping back from a mile and a half on faster ground.

"She's taken every step well this year and this looked the logical next race for her," Twomey said. "She's dropping down in trip and stepping up in grade but I think she's got the ability to handle it. I feel she's very versatile in terms of ground."