''there is no Best Mate around this year who loved the course, travelled like a Rolls Royce, jumped safer than any horse ever, and is tailor made for the race.''

...AND BEAT TREES

Sorry James my fault[:x]

Still think Hannn putting away Memory early( a la Canford) augurs well, and would always like to see a madame head runner given experience of Newmarket before the 1000

LOL. Bit precious, mate

Helleborine is genuinely my NAP of 2011. I absolutely love the turn of foot of this filly and it was obvious to see it cantered along side Misty for Me, but just could not pick up in that seriously soft ground. Its a sister to african rose- who arguably prefered better ground. I cannot believe you can still get a bit of 10s on the exchanges. I really really like this. Just think it has the complete profile for a 1000 Guineas winner. The other option with backing it is to wait till it loses its prep race -as Mme Head never gets them ready first time and they always do drift a bit after a loss. But she'll turn up spot on on the day come May. 5 pts win HELLEBORINE to pay for LA summer 2011.

Does look a weak Guineas this year she should be up there with a chance.

Very likely to turn up imo.

Helleborine certainly acts on soft ground but is even better on good ground.  Both her dam and her sire were very effective on good to firm ground.  I reckon she'll be effective on any ground except real extremes (very soft or very firm).

I've just realised that the blogster referred to in my previous post is none other than Cyrus Dailami, who posted on this thread on 8 January.  Hi Cyrus! - I wish I was as confident as you.  Helleborine certainly has a lot going for her: she has a very high cruising speed, she has already won over a mile (albeit in a slowly-run race), she has run extremely well in a Group 1 race on unsuitably soft ground, she promises to be even better on faster ground, she is with a trainer with a proven track record in the Guineas, she is held in similarly high regard to Criquette's previous Guineas winners, and most crucially of all she has a superb turn of foot.  I just hope that she comes to hand early enough.  13/1 (or whatever she is on here) is great value.

In case anyone missed the news a few days ago, Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, has confirmed that Helleborine will go for the 1000 Guineas and will have her prep race in the Prix Imprudence on 7 April (where her opponents may include Moonlight Cloud).

I like Havant, reported on course for a Guineas trial today.

Massive field although I suspect a lot of those will drop out ? It is usually a single figure field.

Thanks for the update.

Seven fillies have been withdrawn from the Prix Imprudence, leaving 13 possible runners (NB these are not the final declarations):
Helleborine (Head-Maarek), Etive (Pantall), Wizz Kid (Collet), Nova Step (Rohaut), Heidikly (Montzey), Madly In Love (Gay), Mambia (Rouget), Izalia (Rossi), Immortal Verse (Collet), Moonlight Cloud (Head), Whip And Win (Collet), Action Chope (Guillemin), Miss Fifty (Suter)

Those withdrawn at this morning's forfeit stage were: Exemplify, Boastful, Split Trois, Dealbata, Halesia, Nova Hawk, Angel Of Harlem

james what day  is the prix imprudece run on this week .thanks

thanks for that james what was the state of the going today .

Ms Head has the best part of a month to get her horses firing. Unless Helleborine is beaten out of sight (as opposed to Special Duty last year) the big one will neither be won or lost this week.

yeah sint,i will be happy if she runs a similar race to special duty, not knocked about just a nice work out to put her spot on .

The ground at Longchamp today was 'collant' (sticky or holding).

I dont think we're expecting her to win. I'm certainly not. Recent history tells us what we want/expect from the run with the trainers previous Guineas winners.

Yes fair point James. Ground was quite testing last year in the prep and I recall the winner came from a yard who was firing in the winners at the time.

Helleborine (Stephane Pasquier) is one of 11 declared runners in the Prix Imprudence on Thursday.  Here's a summary of the other ten runners:

Etive (Pantall): 6122-0134 (RPR 91)
Has already run four times this year, winning a minor stakes race at Cagnes-sur-Mer, but beaten in two Listed races since, most recently behind Nova Step at Deauville and looks up against it here.

Wizz Kid (Collet): 142- (RPR 104)
Looked a bit special when winning the Prix Yacowlef (Listed) on debut last summer, was subsequently 4th in the Gr.2 Prix Robert Papin and 2nd (beaten six lengths) in the Gr.2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (on very soft ground).  Shapes as though she will stay at least 7f and is still something of an unknown quantity.

Nova Step (Rohaut): 2113-1 (RPR 98)
Progressive filly, best effort last year when 3rd to Espirita in Gr.3 Prix des Reservoirs on final start (beaten 4½ lengths), and made a winning seasonal debut at Deauville (all-weather) in a three-way photo.  Needs to improve further to get competitive.

Madly In Love (Gay): 36835326-5 (RPR 83?)
Still a maiden after nine starts, beaten about six lengths on latest start at Deauville (finished behind Barry Hills’ 81-rated Cheque Book), looks outclassed here.

Mambia (Rouget): 4211114- (RPR 105)
Smart and progressive filly for Joel Boisnard last year (won Gr.3 Prix du Calvados and 4th in Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac, held by Helleborine on latter form), very effective over 7f, now trained by Jean-Claude Rouget.

Izalia (Rossi): 5211- (RPR 92)
Very useful and progressive filly, finished last year with victory in weakish renewal of Gr.3 Prix Miesque over course and distance (very soft ground).  Needs to step up again to get competitive.

Moonlight Cloud (Head): 114- (RPR 107)
Smart and very highly regarded filly, won her first two races very easily before finishing 4th in Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (beaten 3½ lengths by Wootton Bassett), where she seemed to be given quite an easy time by her jockey.  Almost certainly capable of better, she rates a serious danger to Helleborine here and is reportedly being aimed at the 1000 Guineas.

Whip And Win (Collet): 6321411- (RPR 97)
Recorded three wins last year (all over a mile), including Prix Isonomy (Listed) on final start (heavy ground).  Held by Izalia on Prix Miesque form (beaten over two lengths).

Action Chope (Guillemin): 1421- (RPR 96)
Useful and progressive filly last year, won Prix Saraca (Listed) on final start in three-way photo finish.

Miss Fifty (Suter): 362327- (RPR 101)
Still a maiden after six starts, but showed useful form, runner-up to Mambia in Gr.3 Prix du Calvados, seventh in Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac (held by Helleborine and Mambia on latter form).

The presence of a number of Listed and Gr.3-class fillies gives the race a very solid look.  Mambia is respected, even though she finished a few lengths behind Helleborine in the Boussac.  Wizz Kid is hard to assess, as she is lightly raced and stepping up in trip, but she looked a smart sort last year and could be capable of springing a surprise.  Moonlight Cloud looks the main danger to Helleborine: she probably has a few pounds to find on her bare form but is almost certainly open to plenty of improvement.  The others need to find a fair amount of improvement to get competitive. 

Helleborine is drawn 1, so I imagine that Pasquier will look to drop her in behind horses rather than allow her to see too much daylight or risk getting boxed in near the rail (I'm not sure where the stalls will be positioned).