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Auteuil
's LATEST Meeting
by Christopher Iles
Friday 3 November 2000
A
good fun day's racing at Auteuil on Wednesday. I don't know what's been
reported in England, but Le Sauvignon completed the double of the big
hurdle races, seeing off the decent Doumen horse Baracouda, and there was
an uncanny performance in the novice chase by Douze Douze, who looks like
a real champion in the making. Throw in the usual Auteuil features of
horses falling at the water-jumps and bizarre refusals, and you end up
with an enjoyable day out.
I'll do a more detailed review when I get back to England.
Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
IRIS
BLEU
by
Christopher Iles
Wednesday 1 November 2000
In
response to a comment put on Channel 4 Racing's forum about this recent
import, I asked Christopher for his comments on this 4 year old
I'll
have a longer look at the form tonight, but he's won some ordinary hurdles
and chases quite well, and Pipe has turned worse French imports into
Festival winners. Whoever reckons he's among the top three four year olds
in France is exaggerating a bit, though perhaps he has the potential.
Considering the horse's former owner is quite prominent in the French
jumping world (she's had 2 winners of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in
the 1990s), you have to wonder, why is he being sold?
I should be off to Paris tomorrow for the races, though the omens are not
good, what with railways being dug up, fallen trees across the line, and
the Parisians being banned from the Bois de Boulogne adjacent to Auteuil
racecourse as it's too dangerous in the gales...still, the meeting looks
unlikely to be rained off. There was standing water on the track for the
1999 Grand Steeplechase de Paris, and the ground wasn't even considered to
be that soft...
I've checked the form again. Your correspondent is right; 4 runs, form
8111. All at Auteuil on soft/heavy ground this year. His last win was a
chase in May, which makes him eligible for novice chases but not novice
hurdles. He could be quite decent, he didn't run against the best 4 year
olds in France (who I get to see tomorrow) but might well have gone up
against them on his next start if he'd stayed in France.
Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
A
COUPLE OF HORSES RUNNING AT WETHERBY
by Christopher Iles
Saturday 28 October 2000
One
horse worth mentioning from today's card was Tysou in the opener. His
fourth at Auteuil was behind a couple of good horses in Maillot Jaune and
Katiki, and a level above Belle D'Anjou. The heavy ground may not have
suited him (and Belle D'Anjou may have found more improvement for Pipe
than Tysou with Hammond); perhaps there's a race in him on better ground
later this season.
I was tempted to back Korakor, as the left-handed oval and ground more
suited for alligators than racehorses would be exactly what he'd be used
to from Auteuil...but I'm glad I didn't now.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Review
of Auteuil 's OCTOBER Meetings
by Christopher Iles
Monday 23 October
A
month of trials for the championship races in November. Certainly the
classiest race was the Prix Heros XII which included 3 former winners of
the Grand Steeplechase de Paris: Al Capone II (1997), First Gold (1998)
and Mandarino (1999). Strangely, it was the first time First Gold and Al
Capone II had met in a steeplechase.
The
contest was rather ruined by some very erratic jumping from Al Capone II,
with whom all does not seem to be well. He almost came to a standstill
before jumping the ditch five out, which was not clever as the obstacle is
the size of the Chair. First Gold won quite comfortably, but Mandarino ran
his best race for a long while in coming second. The three will meet again
in the Prix La Haye-Jousselin on 5 November. Francois Doumen has been
quoted in the French press saying that First Gold will go on to run in the
King George; his odds of 20/1 look tempting considering he's at least in
the same class as See More Business and Looks Like Trouble.
A
couple of Doumen's hurdlers did well, too. Bilboa stepped up from a maiden
fillies' event to take on the best three year olds in France, and ran
second to the much more experienced Katiki. She could well turn the tables
in the championship event, the Prix Cambaceres. Baracouda, a five year
old, won a big handicap this spring, and has now run second over 2m4f
against some of the top hurdlers in France. He certainly has ability,
though it's difficult to think of a suitable race for him over here over
that sort of distance.
It's
unusual to see British-trained horses running in handicaps at Auteuil
(some of Martin Pipe's must be certainties if running off their old French
ratings!); Luzcadou, though, ran in the Prix Montgomery, which is France's
longest handicap chase at just short of 3 miles. He finished sixth, which
is an improvement on his previous two starts in France. Probably the soft
ground suited him better, though it wasn't anywhere
near as heavy as for his two wins at Ayr last winter. The past two winners
of the Prix Montgomery (Courlis Pontet and Gadz'art) have ended up over
here, probably as they became impossible to place in France, but this
year's winner Saute au Bois looks less likely to have this problem. He
seems to have the class to compete against the best chasers in
France.
The
best chaser on display that day, though, won an amateurs' chase. Bipbap
was the top four year old of 1998, and would still be unbeaten over fences
but for going lame on his last start in February. His real test will come
in December, when he takes on the elite in the last major chase of the
year, the Prix Georges Courtois.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
FIRST
GOLD'S TOO BIG FOR THE KING GEORGE
by
Christopher Iles
Tuesday17 October
I
notice First Gold has been backed down to 25/1 for the King George, which
still seems ridiculously long odds for a horse that's better than Nupsala
or Algan. I'm not convinced he'll win, but those sort of odds seem quite
tempting if you're in the habit of backing ante-post. I'd be interested to
know what price he is for the Gold Cup, as those odds will disappear in no
time if he wins at Kempton.
I should be along at Kempton this weekend for the Charisma Gold Cup, which
will be my first visit there for a couple of years.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
HORS
LA LOI III MOVES BACK TO BRITAIN
by Christopher Iles
Thursday 5 October
According
to today's Paris Turf, Hors La Loi III will be trained by James Fanshawe
this season; this makes sense, I suppose, as he didn't seem to be enjoying
himself round Auteuil.
Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Review
of Enghien's Meeting on Monday
by Christopher Iles
Monday 18 September
To people in
the UK, French jumps racing hides itself in a veil of obscurity, which
occasionally lifts to allow us a glimpse of events at Auteuil. For the
second Paris jumps track - Enghien - the mist is all-encompassing. Results
are next to impossible to come by and, for those horses that make it over
here, the form is rarely displayed. This is a shame as it is here that
imports such as Geos, Cenkos and Violet Express have started out and shown
their best form.
Enghien held its first meeting of the autumn on Monday (18 September). One
race, in particular, caught the eye - a four-year-old chase, restricted to
horses making their debut over fences. It attracted three useful hurdlers:
Levallois, Hilltopper and L'Avocat, who finished in that order. All three
were reckoned good enough to run in the top four-year-old hurdles this
spring at Auteuil, Levallois only being run out of it close home in the
championship race.
Those big
Auteuil hurdles have been quite a source of talent (Makounji, Le Coudray,
Toto Toscato, Lady Cricket etc.) and all three of the above would look
likely to do well if brought over here.
Another young, progressive horse won the big chase on the card - a trial
for the Grand Steeplechase d'Enghien at the end of October. Darastan won a
valuable conditions hurdle at Auteuil in early February and obviously
seems to have taken to fences well enough
LINTON
ROCK FAILS TO TAKE THE FRENCH GRAND NATIONAL
by Christopher Iles
Thursday 6 September
Linton
Rocks failed in his attempt to win the Grand National de Craon this
Sunday, running fifth of fourteen, but put up an excellent performance,
leading till making a mistake at the final ditch and fading to finish a
fairly close fifth. He jumped the strange obstacles - more Badminton than
Cheltenham - well, and it'll be interesting to see if his performance
tempts others to have a crack at the French cross-country chases.
He wasn't the only British raider on France this weekend - Luzcadou
returned to Auteuil to have a crack at a decent conditions chase last
Friday; the first two home would be very close to top class, and the race
was the fastest run on the card. Finishing ninth (of 14), he ran well till
being outpaced on ground that the times suggest was considerably faster
than he'd have liked. The Racing Post suggested he'd be kept in France for
a shot at other races at Auteuil as the ground becomes more to his liking.
Rubissimo, who has flopped in all his races in England, also ran in the
same race, running disappointingly and being pulled up.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE.
Review
of Auteuil 's Meeting ... A star is Born
by Christopher Iles
Thursday 28 September
The first
name to go on the Cheltenham shortlist is that of Francois Doumen's
juvenile Bilboa, who won the fillies' division of the Prix Finot quite
convincingly. The Prix Finot is for horses making their debut over jumps,
and is traditionally the race where the star jumpers of the future start
out - a rich source of future winners. Bilboa won in the fastest time of
the 3 divisions (the colts' race being divided). In beating 18 opponents
over 2m2f, she demonstrated that she can handle the big field and the
stamina demands of the Triumph Hurdle. Being a half-sister of Makounji by
Le Coudray's sire, she's bred for the job as well.
Al Capone II, while not fully fit, disappointed somewhat in his
reappearance, finishing fifth over hurdles. If you excuse one race when he
pulled up after breaking a bone in his foot, it's the first time he'd
finished out of the first three since at least May 1996. The race was won
by another Doumen-trained horse, First Gold - the winner of the 1998 Grand
Steeplechase de Paris. First Gold had missed the next 20 months with leg
problems, and this was his first win since. Signs of a return to form,
perhaps, as he didn't look at his best when I saw him run this spring.
Doumen suggested afterwards that First Gold might well run in England this
winter; I'd reserve judgment on his chances till he's renewed rivalry with
Al Capone II in the Jousselin on 5 November.
Making a quiet but successful reappearance in the same race was last
year's top four year old chaser, Hespoir d'Aurelie, who hasn't run since
last November. He could yet spring a surprise or two on the top chasers in
France this autumn.
To complete Doumen's day, he landed a four year old hurdle with a
half-brother of Fulip called Ilico II, who was having only his second
start over obstacles. Another to watch for this winter, perhaps?
Meanwhile, The Outback Way finished a good third in the Gran Premio Merano
Forst, the Italian Gold Cup, this Saturday. Three lengths fourth at the
last, he couldn't go with the first two and was beaten eight lengths into
third. He reversed form with Boca Boca, who had beaten him in Japan last
April - perhaps surprisingly, as the extra 5f in Italy ought not to have
suited him judged on his British form
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE.
Auteuil
Autumn Preview
by Christopher Iles
Thursday 14 September
Unlike
in the UK, in France the jumps programme falls into two distinct parts - a
spring season and an autumn season - each with their own championship
events.
Undoubtedly, the highlight this autumn will be the Prix La Haye-Jousselin
- the steeplechase championship - on 5 November. The incredible Al Capone
II is trying to win this race for the eighth successive year; most of his
likely rivals had not even been born when he first won the event. He does
not have an easy task, though. In particular, the winner of the Grand
Steeplechase de Paris, Vieux Beaufai, will be very difficult to beat. It's
difficult to know how good Vieux Beaufai actually is, as his style of
running is to be held up off the pace and come very fast and late.
Slow-paced and fast-paced races, as well as all sorts of ground, seem to
come alike to him. Former champions First Gold and Mandarino, the
improving 5 year old Indien Bleu, and last weekend's winner Grey Jack are
also capable of overturning the champion on the right day.
The champion hurdler Le Sauvignon will also have a tough time; his
championship race is the Grand Prix d'Automne, on 1 November. It's
difficult to see any of the horses he beat in June reversing the form, but
a number of the best hurdlers in France didn't run that day - in
particular Mon Romain, winner of the Grand Prix d'Automne the last two
years, and the highly impressive 5 year old Silver Break (my idea of the
winner).
The 3 and 4 year olds also have their own championships. These races
usually produce the most successful imports to Britain, and are worth
watching closely. The 4 year old hurdlers haven't impressed me,
individually or collectively, this year - they keep beating each other -
but the top 4 year old chaser this spring, Boisnoir, looks to be still
improving, and could well retain his position as the best of his
generation. It's too early to assess the 3 year old championships.
Traditionally, the best 3 year old hurdlers don't make their debut till
late September/early October, but soon overtake those who were running in
the spring and summer. The first 3 year old chase at Auteuil was run
whilst their contemporaries over here were preparing for the St Leger.
They run over the easiest of the three chase courses at Auteuil, and are
at least 18 months away from jumping the giant Aintree-style open ditch
the French call "juge de paix" - the Judge.
Principal meetings are October 7 and 14, November 1, 5, 12, 19 and 26, and
December 3. Auteuil is easy to get to, being 10 yards from Porte d'Auteuil
metro station (90 minutes from the Eurostar at Gare du Nord) and on the
inner Paris ring road (Peripherique - almost literally on the road, as the
road goes underneath the edge of the parade ring - use the Porte d'Auteuil
junction).
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE.
Last
Season's Purchases from France......Horses to Note this Season
by Christopher Iles
24 August 2000
All of the
horses below will have run at least once in England last season, and in my
opinion are capable of better performances than they have yet shown over
here. This is not a list of 'horses to follow' in that I would not expect
to make money by backing all these horses every time they run next season,
though I would expect the majority of these to win a race by the end of
the year.
Asador (P F Nicholls)
Ran an eye-catching race in the Triumph Hurdle. I haven't yet heard an
explanation for his eccentric behaviour during the race - it could be he
objected to running downhill, or it could be the occasion got to him. He
had plenty of Flat experience on the French provincial circuit and won 3
of 3 hurdles before his run at Cheltenham, all on right-hand tracks.
Judging by the way the winners quickened away from him in the Triumph, he
could be best over 2m4f.
(The 4 Long Pole - I seem to remember something happened to the bit in the
Triumph which made his virtual unsteerable, did well to finish so closely
if you take that into consideration)
Silver Top (Miss V Williams)
The champion 3-year-old chaser and hurdler in France in autumn 1998, and
came within a neck of repeating the double in spring 1999. His successes
look like they were a result of him maturing early, as he was well beaten
in autumn 1999 and ran like a waste of money on his British debut at
Ascot. Seeing him beaten in the 1999 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure was an
experience likely to stay in my mind for a long while, as he threw away a
certain victory on the run-in to be beaten by the 75/1 shot Arlas, who has
not exactly boosted the form since.
Foly Pleasant (Miss H C Knight)
Two good seconds off automatic top-weight at Chepstow and Stratford last
autumn, and hasn't run since. He has the same owner and trainer as Edredon
Bleu, and a similar sort of profile before coming over here - a multiple
winner at 2m-2m4f in the French provinces. He's only won going
right-handed to date, though would appear to have handled the sharp
left-handed track at Stratford. May not handle really heavy ground.
Korakor (T D Easterby)
Very useful 2m4f chaser in France, who ended up running 6th of 12 in one
of their most valuable races, the Prix Georges Courtois, last November.
He's had 3 runs in handicaps here; my (cynical) interpretation is he's
been run to get a decent handicap mark for this season, and certainly has
the ability to win a decent Grade B handicap. He's been lightly raced, and
may be prone to minor injuries.
Luzcadou (M D Hammond)
Within a few pounds of subsequent French champion chasers Vieux Beaufai
and Mandarino as a four year old, and his runs over here show he still has
the ability. There are plenty of valuable races over three miles at
Haydock for him next season.
(The 4 Long Pole - He's young enough to make an impression this year, but
he does appear to require soft conditions to be at his best. To some
degree that limits his opportunities. You can see him wining a decent
handicap this term)
Carandrew (M C Pipe)
Can't jump British fences, but certainly capable of winning a grade B or C
handicap over hurdles when he reverts to them.
(The 4 Long Pole - A very bad fall at Plumpton seems to have completely
shot his confidence, able but worth treating with caution at present)
Fénix de l'Isle (I P Williams)
Won a couple of chases at around 2m2f on yielding ground at Auteuil,
before struggling on heavier ground. Broke a blood vessel on his only run
over fences here, but capable of winning a grade B or C handicap. He has
jumped to the right before, and may prove better going that way round.
Sulphur Springs (M C Pipe)
Didn't win over obstacles at all in France, but contested some very
high-class races, placing in some valuable handicaps and finishing a
rather distant 6th of 8 in the 1999 Grand Steeplechase de Paris. Ridden by
his veteran owner last season, he won a couple of point-to-points before
running down the field on unsuitably fast ground in the 4 Mile National
Hunt Chase at the Festival, a strange choice of race considering he seemed
best at 2m-2m3f in France. Pipe could place him to win a hatful of races,
though his lack of wins to date does make me wonder.
(The 4 Long Pole - Having watched this horse between the flags, you be
surprised if he could operate at short trip. Between the flags he went a
searching pace and took no prisoners, and posted some very quick times
when winning at Tweseldown and Larkhill, some of the stiffer tracks on the
circuit. He almost certainly would have been placed but for suffering very
bad interference after the water jump, second time around in the National
Hunt Chase, the most striking feature of watching that race was the amount
of ground he made up in the last mile. A 52 length defeat seems a lot, but
I assure it could have been a lot worse!!!. As he's still effective
eligible for novice chases, he could clean up around the gaffs, but he may
be a little better than that)
Extra Jack (P F Nicholls)
Extra Jack is a half-brother to Djeddah, though seems to prefer softer
ground. Once a decent handicapper in France, who doesn't look as good as
he was since missing the whole of 1998. He won 4 claiming chases at
Auteuil and a Stratford novice hurdle, but was outclassed in better races.
Interesting in grade C or D company over here.
Pain Royal (I P Williams)
A huge, staggeringly ugly horse who could well be the original horse
designed by committee, and has been very lightly raced the last 5 years.
Very inconsistent in France, he won a decent handicap chase in 1996 and
popped up again in spring 1999 in another valuable chase, showing no
worthwhile form in between. He ran a very good fourth in a weak 1999 Grand
Steeplechase de Paris (3m5f), only being outpaced from 3 out, and has the
ability to win a big staying chase, though is certainly not one I would
trust to do so.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE.
MARTIN
PIPE'S RECENT PURCHASES FROM FRANCE
by
Christopher Iles and The 4 Long Pole
In an attempt
to be innovative I've been in correspondence with Martin Pipe to uncover
some of his most recent purchases from France as well as the latest on
some of the stable stars. I've given you my thought on them, Christopher
has added more substance to their credentials
The 4 Long
Pole
MARTIN
PIPE'S RECENT PURCHASES FROM FRANCE... MY ASSESSMENT
by
Christopher Iles
2 August 2000
I'll have to check out a few of these in more depth and add to this piece
in due course howevr this is what I've managed to unsurface about some of
Pipe's new horses below.
Hesk - the form figures 'UFU' look alarming but were all on heavy ground.
It could be he's one of these horses who simply can't jump on the surface
- Moscow Express being the example that comes to mind at the moment - so
Pipe is doing the smart thing running him in the summer. The name Silver
Break, who beat him over hurdles at Auteuil, is worth remembering as he
was probably the fastest hurdler in France this spring - and isn't bad
over fences either.
Jasmin d'Estruval - going by the name, a 3-y-o AQPS (non-thoroughbred). In
France, he'd probably go over fences by Autumn 2001. A fair number of them
have been brought over here and are being brought along as if they were
Irish store horses. Time will tell if this is a good idea. Jasmin
d'Estruval would probably be unraced, though might have had the odd run in
the French equivalent of a bumper on one of the minor provincial tracks.
Delaware - I can't tell you anything further about this one, but he could
be interesting. He might well have run at Auteuil after a string of wins
in the French provinces, which would put him into a similar category to
Edredon Bleu, Tresor de Mai, Gris d'Estruval and others. It bothers me a
bit that he was only run in a claimer, but Pipe has done well with Royal
Predica and Exit Swinger from similar races.
Cle de Lune - his run on 6/9/99 is interesting, in that Grivery went on to
be the champion 3-y-o chaser in France. I'll need to check out the form in
more detail, as I'm sure he's run more often than you suggest.
Kaki Crazy - has definitely run more often than the once you suggest. He'd
have been worth trying against the best chasers in France, and would be
interesting in some of the bigger handicap chases - something like the
Tripleprint, if that's the right trip. He has run mainly on heavy ground,
as I remember.
Montreal - his sire does produce decent chasing types - Al Capone Ii's
great rival Chamberko was one of them, and was one of the largest and
best-looking chasers I've seen. I wouldn't be put off by the mention of
Challenger du Luc, as Chamberko was as brave and tough as they come.
Montreal ran a pretty decent time on one of his starts at Auteuil, and
looks one with a bright future - if perhaps not this year.
Harppy - ran over fences at Auteuil either last autumn or this spring. He
won't be a Cheltenham candidate, but ought to be up to winning races in
the West Country.
Gadz'art - won the Prix Montgomery (a rough equivalent of the Hennessy)
last autumn, but hasn't had the pace when running against the best chasers
in France. He finished a very distant ninth in the Grand Steeplechase de
Paris this May, and may well not have stayed the 3m5f trip. Pipe did well
with a former winner of the Prix Montgomery, Encore Un Peu.
Aficion - I think he beat Katarino over fences in September 1998, and has
done quite well over hurdles more recently. I saw him run this spring,
coming 4th in an 18 runner handicap hurdle, and wasn't too Impressed by
him - on looks he would have finished last, being low and fragile looking.
I'd be put off backing him in a chase at Ascot or Cheltenham, though he's
certainly fast enough to win races over here.
An interesting bunch on the face of it.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
DIBEA
TIMES... A TRIUMPH HURDLE HORSE?
by
Christopher Iles; 12 July 2000
I suppose the appropriate place to start is with a juvenile hurdler,
considering the success of Hors La Loi III, Katarino, Snow Drop and the
likes in the last couple of seasons. DIBEA TIMES won 3 year olds' race at
Auteuil in May, and has since been sold to race over here (though as yet I
don't know who will train the horse).
While his form to date doesn't amount to much - on his only previous run,
he was unplaced on the Flat in the French provinces - the race he won is
quite a significant one. Called the Prix Wild Monarch, it is restricted to
3 year olds making their first appearance over hurdles, and seems to
attract horses that their trainers consider potentially top-class.
The previous 2 winners have done very well - Grand Seigneur placed in the
French 3 year olds' championship race in November, before winning the big
juvenile hurdle at Lingfield in December (and was favourite for the
Triumph for a while); Silver Top was the French 3 year old champion over
hurdles and fences, also winning the 4 year old champion hurdle last
spring. There is an equivalent fillies' race, which produced this year's
champion 4 year old, N'Avoue Jamais.
The form of Dibea Times' win looks solid, and with the third having won
since, he should be worth following in this country.
N.B - Is now
with Malcolm Jefferson
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
FULIP
RETURNS TO FORM
by
Christopher Iles;
30
June 2000
Fulip,
third in Florida Pearl's Sun Alliance Chase, returned to winning ways over
a trip too short (2m6f). He's been entered up over here since then, but
has yet to run again...a pity, as he has a decent race in him. I'd be
tempted to tip him as a National horse if it weren't for the poor record
of French-trained horses in the race. Tipping a horse that lost to
Escartefigue also goes against the grain rather.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
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