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Auteuil reopens, September 7
Some thoughts:
A nice easy reappearance win for Kotkita, which taught us nothing new. It will be
interesting to see how she gets on when the better juveniles appear over the next few weeks, and when the ground softens.
Japhet 's win suggests he's close to top-class, given the way he beat the likes of Dourakine, Demessac and
Jim Blak. He's unbeaten on the Flat, hurdles and fences, and was being talked up as a Sun Alliance
Chase candidate by his trainer in early summer.
The claiming hurdle wasn't a bad race. Herakles has a good wins to runs record, and can win a few more
similar races, possibly even a decent handicap hurdle. Equally interesting was the runner-up
Kapatchi, who
was previously one of the top handicap hurdlers at Auteuil. He'd missed at least a year, but seems to
have as much ability as can be expected for a 10 year old hurdler.
The last race was interesting. The winner Heros Collonges is very lightly raced, and might be worth
keeping an eye on. Very unusually, he made his debut aged 6, earlier this summer. There's no reason for
assuming he's top class, but he hasn't found his level yet and could win another couple of races. Third-placed
Hardi du Perche is also very lightly raced, and could take a similar event.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Saturday 14 September 2001
SOME HORSES TO NOTE FOR THE COMING SEASON:
French-trained horses, or very recent imports from France dominate this list. While so many French horses are imported now that they can no longer be backed blindly, there are still a fair number that get underrated...here are some of them:
Japhet (G Macaire, in France). A decent four-year-old chaser who's already won a couple of races over at Auteuil. His trainer is aiming him at their championship race, the Prix Maurice Gillois, in November, and is then intending to bring him over to England, where he should win novice chases.
Karolina (at present in France). In the same ownership as Katarino, Makounji and Violet Express, and seems to be taking the same route over here as the last two of these. She ran a good second in a very competitive handicap hurdle for four year olds at Auteuil, and is improving. I'd expect her to be with the Nicky Henderson stable by the autumn, and should win races over here - whether over hurdles or fences remains to be seen.
Three useful hurdlers who started their racing careers last winter at Pau are worth a mention -
Armaturk, Ogham and Zetho. Armaturk was brought over to join Paul Nicholls' stable last spring, and won a couple of novice hurdles at the end of the season quite easily. I've heard rumours that the other two have been brought across the Channel as well. All three could make very good novice chasers this winter.
Douze Douze (G Macaire, in France). The top four year old chaser in France in 2000, who thoroughly demolished his nearest rivals in their championship event, despite jumping alarmingly to the right throughout. His career has been restricted by injury problems, but is certainly a potential Gold Cup winner should he be brought over for the race.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Sunday 9 September 2001
IDAHO D'OX & SULPHUR SPRINGS
Martin Pipe entered a newcomer with ability this Sunday - Idaho d'Ox
though I don't know the result yet. He's no champion but should do well at this time of year.
Sulphur Springs' wins-to-runs ratio is now becoming almost acceptable, and he could well hold his own in more competitive staying handicaps when the season really gets going.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Friday 24 August 2001
THIERRY CIVEL & JACQUES ORTET, TWO TRAINERS TO NOTE THIS SEASON.
I noted last night with interest, that Thierry Civel has declared a runner in Ireland today. Civel entered Belussac for last year's Grand National. sadly he didn't run, though the mayhem his presence would probably have caused happened anyway. Anyway, even if Celte, an unraced filly even fails to score, this seems to be a move worth noting, and it may be possible that we may need to keep an eye of runners from his yard this term
Another to watch this season could be Jacques Ortet, and I'll will keep a close eye on events at Pau this winter. It's a shame Or Jack has been retired - the Gold Cup would have been just right for him...
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Monday 20 August 2001
JOUCAS
Paris-Turf mentioned a hurdler of Francois Doumen's called Joucas
in its occasional 'horses to follow' section. Apparently, he ran promisingly on his debut. One to keep an eye open for this winter?
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Tuesday 20 August 2001
ICI LONDRES
Francois Doumen has an interesting horse called
Ici Londres, who ran third in a decent-looking bumper at Clairefontaine last week.
Beytadj who raced in handicap hurdle with Bob Buckler last term, has gone back to being trained in France...another one to forget about for now.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Friday 17 August 2001
MUSARDO
Musardo, a useful sort who raced with Venetia Williams last season is back in France now, it would seem.
He won at Clairefontaine on Monday. I thought he was due a win in the near future, but had hoped to have the chance to profit from it...
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Tuesday 14 august 2001
Auteuil finishes for the summer - some thoughts
Christopher Iles names some horses to watch out for
in the autumn ...
16 June
Vic Toto looks like a justified winner of the four year old hurdle. It was a strange race, with Serrano and Vic Toto grabbing a huge lead.
Serrano fell two out, but Vic Toto kept going to beat Bilboa very easily. The time was very fast, which weighs against the idea that he may have sneaked it...
The French Champion Hurdle looked weak, and Le Sauvignon had little real opposition. A confirmed heavy-ground horse, Gilder, finished second. Third-placed Bounce Back has demonstrated conclusively
to my eyes that he's not a top-class hurdler.
Deano's Beeno didn't like the big hurdles and ran badly.
19 June
The Prix Aguado is the early-year championship for three year olds, but the best two on form weren't
present. The winner, Pussigny, is not bad, but it was his first win so far.
26 June
Kotkita is Kotkijet's sister, and kept up the family honour, winning the three year old championship for
fillies, reversing form with the runner-up Karly
Flight, who also looks very good.
The handicap hurdle wasn't as strong as some, but the winner Belle Yepa won well, and is one who might just turn up over here. Francois Doumen has a hurdler called
Sketch Dantesque who finished down the field, who might turn out to be a decent staying chaser.
The big race on the card, the four year old chase, was weak, and went as expected to Turkish Junior.
2 July
Biviers (Guillaume Macaire) and
Jim Blak (Francois Doumen) ran 1-2 in the novice chase. Two possible
raiders for next season? The last race was decent, with Barents Sea returning from an absence, and the good chasers
Riverston and Haut de Gamme also figuring. Carthago was rather hyped earlier this year, but has been disappointing, and was turned over by
Stormez, who looks like a horse of the future.
6 July
Gerard Margogne trained the winner of the big race, the Prix Rigoletto, for the second successive
year.. Dukeen is still learning, but Margogne reckons he could develop into a Grand
Steeplechase de Paris horse next year. The runner-up Astonville
was having his second start over fences, and looks sure to do
well this autumn..
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Friday 13th July 2001
A REVIEW OF THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTH'S MEETING AT AUTEUIL
Christopher Iles names some horses to watch out for over the coming weeks
....
18 May - This meeting has two races for debutants, including the latest running of the Prix Wild Monarch, the colts' division. This race usually contains a number of top-class horses, and included last year's top juvenile, Katiki and was won by Dibea Times last year, who we suggested would be worth following over here . This year's renewal was won by
Narkis, who is bred for hurdling, being a half-brother of the Prix Alain du Breil winner N'Avoue Jamais. The other runners in the race should include a fair few winners were
Beraud, Prince Dolois, Marquet, Dancer Junior, Or ou Argent, Royal Beaufort, Fils du Bois, Quel Nil, Famous Paard,
Azulejo, Graveur, Longuay, Commendatore, Service a Bord, and Bebe a Bord.
The first few home in the fillies' race should also be worth watching:
La Zingarella,
Moladier,
Mandchoue,
Cadoulie Wood.
22 May - Guillaume Macaire picked up a four year old chase with a nice unbeaten horse called
Japhet, and
hinted he has the Sun Alliance Chase in mind for him next season...
27 May - while most attention went to the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, there were a few interesting runners elsewhere on the card;
Tiger Groom disappointed in the Prix de Longchamp - he may not be liking the faster ground.
The Rook, has already pointed out the merits of Turgot, and
Saint Realise .... it will interesting to see if anyone makes an approach for them.
Roscoff disapointed, and seems to lack any scope. That said his record going into the race may ensure that a British owner takes the plunge with him.
Levallois won the handicap hurdle...the last three runnings of this race have given two champion staying hurdlers (Mantovo and Baracouda), while the other placed at that level. The runner-up,
Cyros, is one who might come over here on a raid one day - a horse I've been watching for a while.
The interesting one in the amateur riders' race was Paladin, formerly close to top-class, and coming back from a long break. He ran second this time. He'd be capable of doing well over British fences if brought over.
The Prix La Barka went to Le Sauvignon, who is looking just about unbeatable at the moment, and it's difficult to see anything in France good enough to cope with him. His British owner is still talking about running him over here in novice chases, though, and I'd bet against him if that was the case, given he didn't take to British obstacles when trained here
briefly over a year ago. He'd have little problem landing a grade D novice at Wetherby, I admit, but would scarcely go off at great value to do so...
1 June - the final race of the card was between two horses still improving,
Karthoum and Garde Chasse, two names to note. The chase won by Master Tracy was a strong race...the runner-up, Bog Frog, actually ran in the Long Walk hurdle back in about 1994 - he has done w ell since, winning the French Champion Hurdle in 1997, and was last seen late in 1999 winning the Grand Steeplechase d'Enghien.
6 June - I've mentioned Karolina before as a horse likely to run over here next season, but she's evidently improving rapidly, winning a competitive handicap hurdle worth about £20000 far more easily than the margin of 5 lengths suggests...she's one to watch in novice chases in the winter. (I think she's owned by R Waley-Cohen so may end up in the Nicky henderson camp).
Two British raiders - Galant Moss won the race, but the noteworthy performance was
Fujiyama II, a close third and giving the winner weight - a much better performance than he's ever showed in England, though up to the level he was running to when trained over in France initially. Maybe he's just better suited to Auteuil, though.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Thursday 14th June 2001
CAN FIRST GOLD WIN THE
FRENCH GOLD CUP, AND CONFIRM HIMSELF AS EUROPE'S BEST 3-MILE CHASER
Well, I've just been foiled in a late attempt to make it over for Sunday...the Grande Course de Haies in mid-June would be the next likely opportunity. I'm also having a think about Clairefontaine this summer, where I haven't been before.
Anyway, here are the entries for the Grand Steeplechase:
-
CHAMPION VERONAIS
-
DJEDDAH
-
DUSTAR
-
EL PASO III
-
EXTRIEN
-
FIRST GOLD
-
GADZ'ART
-
GARDE D'ESTRUVAL
-
GRAAL DE CHALAMONT
-
HOMME DU JOUR
-
KOTKIJET
-
LYREEN WONDER
-
SAINT QUENIN
-
URGA
-
HARMONIE TRESOR
-
HEROINE DE SIENNE
-
ILARE
-
ROYAL TIR
An interesting line-up in which First Gold will seek to confirm his position as Europe's top chaser when he seeks compensation for his Sandown slip-up in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris - the French Gold Cup - at Auteuil on Sunday.
Impressive winner of the King George VI Chase at Kempton and Aintree' s Martell Cup, First Gold blotted his copybook in Sandown's Tote Gold Trophy won by Marlborough last month; where an uncharacteristic blunder at the tenth, sending his rider tumbling.
He is almost certain to go off a warm favourite, however JP
Macmanus seems less than keen about the race - and in any case, he's been trained for one big race after another since
last autumn now, and may need the break
Amongst the 17 opponents that may line up in opposition are Kotkijet, an athletic brown gelding owned by Daniel Wildenstein and Ilare; a lovely grey five year old gelding, who has the potential to be (if he isn't already) France's brightest new chasing prospect.
I'm a little suspicious about Kotkijet, as Katko was a huge star over there and it's difficult to
separate the hype from the reality about Kotkijet. For all that, he's done nothing wrong and beaten most
of his likely opponents. He has to go up in trip by 7f, but so did the last three winners of the race.
Assuming we have faster ground, El Paso III could surprise, though his jumping has never impressed me much. Urga
would also have small chances of an upset.
I don't rate Irish raider Lyreen Wonder's chances much, but he's also in the Prix La Barka later in the day, which would seem the less difficult option.
It should be an interesting, and informative clash of the generations
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Monday, 21 May 2001
some more horses to watch out for over
jumps over the next couple of weeks;
Eloi II (entered in hunter-chase at
Warwick later this week). A fairly experienced chaser who mainly ran round
Enghien. He's nothing special but should be able to find a hunter-chase or
a few points next season.
Thornhill (third at Folkestone on
May 4, on his British debut). He hasn't won anything yet, but had run well
behind some good horses at Auteuil and Enghien, and would be up to winning
at this level certainly.
Gavroche Collonges (ran down the field
on the same card) had won at Enghien and run in valuable handicap chases
at Auteuil - is capable of far better than he's shown so far over here.
FOCUS ON FRANCE
9 May 2001
KOTKIJET & SUBEHARGUES WIN AT AUTEUIL ... CAN BILBOA WIN AT SANDOWN ?
by Christopher Iles
Thursday 10 April 2001
A couple of top-class meetings at Auteuil over the last couple of weeks. Easter Monday saw the running of the Prix Murat, the most valuable of the prep races for the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. The field may just have been sub-standard, with First Gold and Vieux Beaufai absent, Al Capone II and Or Jack retired, and Mandarino in decline, but there were a few runners who could make up into candidates for the championship.
The winner, Kotkijet, is certainly one of these. He was progressing very nicely when I saw him run last autumn, beat his opponents here quite comfortably, and looks the most likely to give First Gold a race come the end of May. It's worth mentioning, though, that the two most obvious dangers (Sunny Flight and Urga), both fell, the latter of which was certainly surprising, if not the former. Kotkijet's owner, the multi-millionaire art dealer Daniel Wildenstein, is a man with a mission...the Grand Steeplechase de Paris is the one Grade I race in France, flat, jumps or trotting, he hasn't won yet. Kotkijet is bred for the job - his half-brother Katko won the race three times.
To complete a good day out for the family, the closely-related 3yo filly Kotkita was another winner...two from two so far. Aintree-style mayhem came to Auteuil in the novice chase, courtesy of Higuest Ruler, who refused at the bullfinch when leading, putting three of his six opponents out of the race as well. A week later we saw the running of the race our press calls the French Grand National - the Prix du President de la Republique, though as a three-mile chase, it doesn't really deserve the comparison. Still, it's the most valuable and competitive handicap in France. It went to the top-weight, the Guillaume Macaire trained Subehargues, in a blanket finish with the first eight home closely spread. Macaire made ambiguous references to running Subehargues in the big English races next year, which Paris-Turf interpreted as the Grand National. Subehargues would have a chance of making the places in a Gold Cup, so would certainly be worth keeping tabs on for next April.
Given his trainer's record over here, you have been warned!
Unlike our Grand National, the French version saw only three fallers, typically all at the rail-ditch on the final circuit. The supporting card had some highlights. Roscoff ran away with a very valuable novice chase, and goes up against the best young chasers in France on his next start. Le Sauvignon reappeared; with no Baracouda to worry about, he won quite easily. Gun'n Roses ran down the field, finishing fifth, which is about as good as he is.
A word or two about Sandown at the weekend. I have no strong opinion about Baracouda, one way or the other. Sudden Shock is certainly worth his place in this, though it would surprise me a little if he did win...Bilboa would have a good chance in the fake Champion Hurdle, but the likely odds don't appeal. I can't think of a four year old that's won the real thing, and I wonder how plodding through the Aintree mire will have affected all the leading candidates in the race.
Ikrenel Royal runs for the first time in the novice chase - his French form suggests he isn't quite good enough, though it wouldn't entirely surprise me if Nicky Henderson has managed to improve him.
Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
A COUPLE TO NOTE
FROM THE LAST MEETING AT AUTEUIL
by Christopher Iles
Tuesday 10 April 2001
Aintree commanded most of the attention, but a couple of races at Auteuil caught my eye this Friday. The big chase of the day was a clash between two top-class hurdlers just starting their chasing career - Homme du Jour and Kimbi.
Homme du Jour ran a bit disappointingly, dropping away in the straight, allowing Kimbi to make it two wins from two runs over fences. He was just short of championship class over hurdles, repeatedly finishing third or fourth in the top races there, and I'd want to see him win a big race over fences before I go overboard about him.
Homme du Jour is better than he showed here, and would still be my idea of the better long-term prospect. A word for the runner-up, Subehargues, who was once a top novice, and is gradually returning to form after a long absence.
Another chase winner on the same card was Astonville. Making his debut over fences, he jumped well enough and came clear very easily on the flat. Near the top over hurdles, he's going to win more races on this evidence.
There was a likely import for next season in the fillies' hurdle on the card. Karolina, who ran second, is in the same ownership as Makounji and Violet Express, and looks to be taking the same route as both those two did. She's not shown she's as good as Makounji yet, but would be capable of winning small races at least over here.
Enghien finally staged its first meeting of the year this Monday. The big race here was the Prix Journaliste, a valuable 2m3f chase. The class horses were Kassiyan and Cyros; Kassiyan, who had a sequence of wins here this time last year, was reappearing and disappointed, while Cyros made most of the running till looking one-paced and being caught on the line by the in-form Fleau.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
BARACOUDA WINS AT AUTEUIL
by Christopher Iles
Saturday 24 March 2001
Three top-class races at Auteuil on 25 March...notably Baracouda's win over hurdles. He did nothing wrong, but a number of his opponents ran below their best, notably Caballo Raptor (reappearing), Hespoir d'Aurelie (may have found the ridiculously heavy ground against him) and Opio (broke down, and sadly seems unlikely to run again). Doumen would like to bring Baracouda over again this season, if conditions permit. He's only won on soft ground over here, as I remember, but he is perhaps even better on faster ground.
The big four-year-old chase saw Saint Realise turn over the first two from the previous big race, Line As and Latran. I like Saint Realise, who's progressing well. Triumph Hurdle entry Lasting Life finished last, but it wouldn't be the first time he's run badly at Auteuil, and his form at Cagnes and Enghien suggest he's better than the result he got here.
The Prix Lutteur III is one of France's most valuable handicap chases, and attracted a field of 19. I can't understand how I missed the winner, Karthoum - his trainer Jean-Paul Gallorini had won 3 of the previous 7 runnings of the race, he does extremely well with horses he's just bought out of claimers like this one, and five year olds do seem to dominate these types of race. The runner-up, Extrien, seems to have been around for ages - he disputed the lead with First Gold in the 1998 running of this race - but always seems to find one or two to beat him. Third-placed Just O'Gaz was making his debut at Auteuil, and looks like a future winner there. Broiswink ran eighth, which tends to confirm the idea I had that he was never Sun Alliance Chase class. It will be interesting to see if someone tries to buy him, or Macaire brings him over for handicaps next year.
THE ROOK - a small word for Point Nevu; an extremely attractive grey gelding (almost white), who beat a useful field, including Ben Ewar in one of the supporting races. I thought that looked a good performance, and whilst the age is off-putting, there probably are races for him over here... it would surprise me if he ended his career on this side of the water
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
TIGER
GROOM & ZETHO
by Christopher Iles
Saturday 24 March 2001
A couple of Sundays with good racing from Auteuil. Two weeks ago saw the juvenile hurdle champion, Katiki, get turned over on his reappearance by improving stars from this winter, Tiger Groom and Zetho. Both remain Triumph Hurdle entries, and Tiger Groom's trainer Robert Collet remains keen on running him, if and when the race takes place. On this evidence, Tiger Groom would be in the same league as Bilboa and Jair du Cochet - the only warning would be that the race was run on exceptionally heavy ground.
The same card gave a possible reason why the Marquesa de Moratalla sold First Gold - she has a potential star of the future in the front-running grey, Ilare, winning his second Auteuil chase of the season. His previous win came in the same race First Gold used to debut at Auteuil, the year he won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris... Ilare isn't trained by Francois Doumen, so is less likely to be brought over here to run, and his entries since suggest a rather lower-key approach than was taken with First Gold.
On a week, and the highlight of the card was the Prix Troytown, a trial for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. There were few established stars on view, Al Capone II and Or Jack retired, First Gold waiting for the Gold Cup and Vieux Beaufai waiting for later in the season, so the way was open for an improving horse in Sunny Flight. A front-running chestnut, his jumping has evidently improved since I saw him as a novice, but whether he is quite good enough to beat the elite is open to question. The runner-up, Urga, is a good yardstick, who was second to Vieux Beaufai in this race last year, fourth in the Grand Steeple-Chase and third in the La Haye-Jousselin.
Some horses with potential in the four year old chase - Roscoff, Jet des Pres - were well beaten by Turgot, who could be
another improver in this category.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
AUTEUIL
REOPENS
by Christopher Iles
Tuesday 6 March 2001
Auteuil staged its first meeting of the new year a week ago (26th February?). The highlight was probably the final race on the card, which saw some of last year's better three year old hurdlers go over fences.
Jet des Pres, third in the Cambaceres (French Triumph Hurdle) looked the best on paper, but may just be on the small side for jumping fences, and was turned over by Saint Realise, who looked very promising last autumn and looks a contender for the big four year old chases as the year goes on.
Stayers' Hurdle entry Havre de Thaix warmed up in characteristic style, enjoying himself out in front till unexpectedly refusing at 'le talus' - a sort of
small earth bank with low vegetation on top, which is jumped like a hurdle and is hardly one of the most difficult obstacles at Auteuil. Evidently, there are risks attached to backing him - he has refused twice here and fallen on numerous occasions - but he seems to win most times he puts in a clear round.
The second Auteuil meeting, on Sunday 4 March, saw the first prep races for the Grand Steeple-Chase and the Grande Course de Haies; the latter was won by Opio, who placed behind Fadalko in this same race a couple
of years ago, and was then not seen out for another 30 months or so. A few disappointments behind him, notably one of the young stars of French jumps racing, Silver Break, who finished last.
In the big chase, Gadz'art returned to home soil after his disappointments this December at Chepstow and Haydock, running fourth. He's still under British ownership and has an entry in the Grand National, so may yet reappear over here.
The first big four year old chase of the year saw the order from last autumn overturned, with the horses that had made their chasing debuts at Pau over the winter coming out on top. The winner, Line As, is in good hands, having the same connections as the chasing stars Or Jack and Grey Jack.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
CHELTENHAM
POSSIBLES RACE AT ANGERS
by Christopher Iles
Wednesday 21 February 2001
An interesting meeting at Angers on Monday, with a few Cheltenham entries warming up. Triumph Hurdle entry Zetho won the big hurdle on the card, probably as expected. A couple of decent chases, the first of which was won by Cheltenham entry Idole des Fontaines, with Broiswink and Grand National candidate Belussac both falling.
Belussac has fallen on his last two starts, which doesn't convince for Aintree (as if anyone needed to be less convinced, considering he has refused more times than the other 131 entries put together). That said, he always seems to fall going
right-handed, and perhaps he might be one of those horses who improves for jumping Aintree - he jumps round Auteuil well enough when he wants.
Guillaume Macaire ran the former top novice chaser Subehargues for the first time in over a year. He'd be worth keeping an eye on if brought over to England. He finished third to Cyros, a former Triumph Hurdle entry trained by Francois Rohaut. Cyros also missed last year, but has a couple of runs at Pau already this season.
France's second best four year old chaser last season, Sleeping Night, has been sold to run over in England. He's not entered at the Festival, but would be well worth a shot at Direct Route etc, at Aintree.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
CHELTENHAM
2001 - A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FRENCH BREDS / FRENCH ENTRIES
by Christopher Iles
Sunday 4 February 2001
A brief look at the lesser-known French-breds entered
in the Cheltenham novice hurdles.
Azertyuiop (P Nicholls) - a very good bumper horse who won his only hurdle run, at Auteuil, very easily last
autumn. He doesn't look to be too competitively
priced for the Triumph, though.
Bilboquet (F Rohaut) - won a couple of big hurdle
races at Clairefontaine in the summer and at Auteuil
in September (handicap). He's in the Supreme Novices'
and would look to have a good chance, especially given
that he'd been competing against experienced
handicappers and still appears to be progressing.
Melodie d'Avril (M Pipe) - ran ninth behind Bilboa at
Auteuil on their debuts, then won a 2m2f claimer there
in October. Pipe should win races with her, but not
at Cheltenham.
Royal Auclair (M Pipe) - Sandown winner this weekend. Fifth on his debut at Auteuil, then ran third to Jair
du Cochet at Enghien, and has won two ordinary Enghien
races since. No reason he should overturn form with
Jair du Cochet, though again Pipe ought to be able to
find more races to win with him.
Tango Royal (M Pipe) - better known as a chaser, but
not eligible for novice chases over here. He proved
beatable last autumn and doesn't seem to be good
enough to win at Cheltenham.
Hindiana (F Murphy) - also better as a chaser.
Previously with Francois Doumen, he likes fast ground; I was watching him to see if he would develop as a
Gold Cup prospect. Murphy is running him over hurdles
as his handicap mark over fences is extremely harsh.
Ikrenel Royal (N Henderson) - well behind fellow Sun
Alliance entry Isful at Auteuil in November, but is
improving - his last two runs saw him win a quite
valuable hurdle at Auteuil and a 2m3f chase at
Enghien.
Imaginaire (V Williams) - had never won before coming
over here, but had run well in some very competitive
races in autumn 1999 over fences. A half-brother of
1999 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Mandarino,
he'd been competing in handicap chases at Auteuil this
year, with his best being a rather distant second to
Fifty Fifty II in June; he was third to Hindiana on
his next start.
Isful (M Pipe) - 2 wins from 7 runs in flat races in
France; third on hurdling debut to future champion 4yo
Caballo Raptor at Auteuil in November. Obviously,
he'd need to improve on that, but Pipe seems fairly
sure to win a decent race or two with him.
Lasting Life (R Collet) - easy winner at Enghien on
his second start; finished a fairly close third to
Jair du Cochet and Bilboa, and would appear
over-priced in the Triumph on that form. In between
times, he had flopped at Auteuil, but has been busy
over hurdles and fences this winter at Cagnes, and
looks well worth bringing over.
Tiger Groom (R Collet) - ex-Flat horse, he's been the
star performer in his age group at Cagnes this winter,
though quite how good he is we have yet to find out...
Warjan (R Phillips) - won on his debut at
Maisons-Laffite, the first of 6 flat races. Yet to
win over hurdles, he'd run 3rd and 2nd before
disappointing on very soft ground on his last run this
November. A bit on the small side, he'd be one to
note for the time when the rain stops.
Zetho (F Rohaut) - decent Pau juvenile; running with
the useful juvenile hurdler Kaduce suggests he's not
quite as good as Lasting Life, but is less-experienced
and may be capable of improving more.
The novice chases haven't nearly so many ex-French
entries; other than Ilnamar, there are just two to
note:
Master Finch (R de Vink) - Arkle entry who's been
running in many of the top French four year old
chases, and seems to be short of top class. It's
possible to see him running into about fourth or
fifth, though, and he'd be interesting in something
like the Grand Annual or the Mildmay of Flete if he
gets a sensible weight.
Broiswink (G Macaire) - Sun Alliance entry, who won an
amateur riders' race at Auteuil in early November in
some style, but was beaten quite decisively next time
out in slightly better company. He should do
respectably, but I can't see him winning.
Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
Guillaume Macaire's
RAID ON THIS WEEKEND'S CARDS
by Christopher Iles
Thursday, 25 January 2001
Guillaume Macaire continues his raids - Grivery would have a tough assignment at Cheltenham whichever race he runs in, though Jair du Cochet's chance is obvious.
On Friday, he runs Broiswick at Folkestone. He beat some decent horses in winning at Auteuil on 5 November, quite easily as I recall. On that form,
he should win here.
I haven't given up on Cyborg de Beaufai yet; he seems to still have the ability, and one day he'll win at a huge price. I'm not sure about tomorrow, though, as I don't feel Doncaster is his track.
After my comments about Belussac, it's typical that he gets entered in the Grand National. Once I had stopped laughing and considered the idea seriously, perhaps he has a good chance...Grey Jack and Empereur River, the two Ortet entries, are interesting as well. Christopher
Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
CONTROVERSY AT
CAGNES .... CHAOS AT PAU
by Christopher Iles
Thursday, 25 January 2001
Cagnes and Pau staged their biggest chases over the last couple of weeks - both were eventful.
At Cagnes, trainer Thierry Civel dominated the race with Calitto just beating Belussac - only for the result to be reversed for interference on the run-in. This gave Belussac his second victory in the race, which he won back in 1997.
Belussac has something approaching a legendary status in France. He hammered Al Capone II by 10 lengths in the 1997 Prix Georges Courtois, and dominated the trials for the 1998 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, with the only blip being in the Prix Murat (fifth, after being brought down by a loose horse, remounted, refusing and continuing). On the big day itself, he only started second favourite to an inexperienced five year old novice called First Gold - the general view being that he would prefer softer ground (which was fair enough) and that he would be badly disadvantaged by having to jump the water-jump twice (just about the most bizarre explanation for not backing a horse I have come across, but to prove oddly prescient...)
His performance during the race was one of the most extraordinary displays of contempt for the norms of racing I have ever seen. Approaching the water-jump for the first time, he was a close third and some way clear of the main body of the field. He slowed down dramatically, veered to his left, and produced a bizarre slow, reluctant, extremely high jump which somehow cleared the water, and he continued, having only lost about 10 lengths. Despite another mistake on the next circuit, he soon recovered his position.
On the second circuit, we saw a near-repeat performance; Belussac slowed down even more dramatically, but this time stopped - at the last possible moment. His jockey gets catapulted forward, his head between Belussac's ears, and is incredibly lucky not to go completely over the top and land in the water.
After nearly a year off, Civel tried to bring him back. He won a race at Enghien on his reappearance, before refusing at the water-jump again in the Prix Murat. After another run round Enghien, he turned up in the big Champion Hurdle trial, the Prix La Barka (this was the race won by French Holly). Here, he set out in the lead on the final circuit, only to unseat his rider for no obvious reason. On to the French Champion Hurdle, and he refuses again; having refused in the French equivalents of the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, I suppose you have to call him the Dawn Run of refusing.
He missed the last half of 1999, and most of 2000, and the next installment in his career is awaited with interest.
The Grand Prix de Pau is the most valuable steeplechase in France run on a right-handed track, and one of the very few races in France run over three miles or more. It's been dominated by local trainer Jacques Ortet, who had won six of the previous seven races, mostly with his stars Or Jack and Grey Jack.
This year, things did not go quite to plan for Ortet. Rockeby Basie fell at the first, and Grey Jack (who had been ill in the weeks leading up to the race) ran badly. Two fences out, a three-horse race suddenly became a one-horse race as Gatsby IV and Nayin fell. Haut de Gamme, left in front, jumped the last clear of his opponents, and fell over on the run-in, giving a totally unexpected victory to Royal Tir, trained by...Jacques Ortet.
The same card also saw Stayers' Hurdle entry Havre de Thaix bounce back to form with a win, after hospitalising his jockey in a heavy fall on his previous start. While his trainer Cyriaque Diard's other Stayers' Hurdle entry Darastan won't run now (injured, and out till the autumn), he's considering running a five year old chaser called Idole des Fontaines at the Festival. Idole des Fontaines will be of interest, after beating the (in my opinion overrated) Sun Alliance Chase candidate Imperial de Thaix on his last start.
Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE
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