Epsom preview: Investec Coronation Cup (15.10)

This year’s renewal of the Group 1 Investec Coronation Cup appears to be a match on paper between French raiders Dolniya and Flintshire, and the former looks a worthy favourite to come out on top.

Dolniya is trained by Alain De Royer Dupre and has won five of her eight starts.

The filly did nothing but improve throughout last year, rounding off the campaign with a cracking fifth of 20 to Treve in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Dolniya finished 2 1/4 lengths behind runner-up Flinsthire that day, but has since beaten that rival on two occasions.

Both those successes have come this season, and in the first Dolniya beat Flintshire by a short neck in a 1m 1f conditions’ contest at Chantilly.

The daughter of Azamour then appreciated the step back up to 1m 4f, over which she has won three of her four starts, to increase her authority and impressively beat Flintshire by 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

There is no real reason why Dolniya should not confirm the form, especially as she is on a serious upward curve and is relatively lightly raced for a four-year-old that remains open to further improvement.

Flintshire finished runner-up to Cirrus Des Aigles in the race 12 months ago, and after chasing home Treve in the Arc ran a blinder when second to Main Sequence in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.