CLASSIC trial season is well under way in France and most of its key races thus far have done little to clarify the three-year-old pecking order, with race fitness proving vital and those making their reappearances from a winter break being at a big disadvantage.

This coming Sunday at Longchamp sees the staging of the Prix de Fontainebleau and the Prix de la Grotte, the two biggest course and distance trials for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains/Pouliches (French 2000/1000 Guineas), and perhaps they will provide a convincing preview of what is likely to happen on May 10th. At the moment the classic picture is as clear as mud.