Nap of the Day: Story to put Royallieu rivals to bed

It's a super Saturday on the racing front, highlighted by top-class action from Longchamp ahead of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day.

We cross the channel for my Nap of the Day - an Irish raider who looks ready to strike for the first time this season.

It hasn't been the smoothest of seasons for BEDTIME STORY, but she can close the chapter in style at Longchamp on Saturday.

Eleven months ago, Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old daughter of Frankel had the world at her feet. She was unbeaten in four starts, having bolted up by nine-and-a-half lengths in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot before Group 3 and Group 2 scalps on home turf.

Her juvenile campaign petered out in the autumn, underwhelming in a couple of attempts at the highest level - including the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend.

She was put away thereafter, reappearing back at Longchamp in May for the French 1000 Guineas in which she finished six of 13, four lengths off the pace.

It wasn't a bad effort given she was very slow out of the gates - a common occurrence for this talented but quirky filly - and the fact a mile on quick ground was in all probability too sharp. She caught the eye in the finish, coming from way out the back of the pack.

The following month, Bedtime Story went to Chantilly for the G1 Prix de Diane over 1m2½f and put in a much-improved performance, finishing within a length of Gezora for Francis-Henri Graffard. That one gave last year's Arc runner-up Aventure, who's among the favourites to go one better this year, a race in the same grade subsequently. He's also got a live chance himself in the big one on Sunday.

Put a line through her no-show in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in July. A flag start put paid to her chances from the off, losing at least five lengths on stablemate and eventual winner Whirl, and she probably wasn't seen to best effect on the heavy ground.

Another trip across the Channel in August saw the selection finish fifth behind another Arc hopeful in Quisisana, the reopposing Survie and Sun Chariot favourite Cinderella's Dream in the Prix Jean Romanet - and her third in the Prix Vermeille last time out behind the aforementioned Aventure and Gezora, on her first try over 1m4f, was another one of her best efforts.

As far as I'm concerned, that form is stronger than anything on offer from her 11 rivals in the Prix de Royallieu.

I strongly believe this half-sister to Yorkshire Oaks (1m4f) heroine Content has been operating over inadequate trips and providing there's not a monsoon that turns the ground heavy overnight, 1m6f is within her compass.

Latakia is a fearsome rival given she's so unexposed, and the hat-trick Santorini Star is dangerous, but I think we might see the very best Bedtime Story on Saturday under the brilliant Christophe Soumillon.

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