COURSES à OBSTACLES 
  "FOCUS ON FRANCE"  

Analysis & Selections by

Christopher Iles & the rØøk 

Whether it be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular may even convince you to back some of those horses which we feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims. whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.

"I do think the modern day racing jumps fans acknowledges that there is a lot that we should try and learn about the foreign invaders, and I think we had to do with the resurgence of point to pointing as a nursery ground for future chasing stars.  Those of you who know me are aware that I do have a good knowledge of this sphere, however I don't think with all the other things I do on the website, I could do it justice.  That's how I got to know Christopher Iles, who being a regular visitor to France, has a very good background on their scene can give it the focus I think it deserves.  I know Christopher is contemplating doing his own website, however before he does so, over the coming months, Christopher, (and whenever I can) will be trying to keep you in touch with what occurring on in France. as well as pointing some names to watch out for".

AUTEUIL IN SEPTEMBER
Christopher Iles reviews Auteuil`s September Meetings 

Auteuil, 5 September 2003 
Ground: Soft
Race times suggest the going was faster than advertised, as is often the case at this time of year. 

Fair effort by Pilca who has now joined Martin Pipe 

A useful effort from the Macaire-trained Prince des Ifs, who was stepping up on his previous wins on provincial tracks; this is a typical approach for Macaire though one seldom used by other trainers, whose horses of comparable ability have a lower wins-to-runs ratio as a result.  Prince des Ifs will probably go up against the best four year old chasers now; in a normal year this form would not be good enough, though it’s difficult to think of better four year olds from the first half of this season.  

Prince des Ifs is unlikely to race in England this winter, having won over hurdles and chases before May. 

The fences exacted a particularly heavy toll at this meeting. 

This race saw many of the best three year old fillies from the spring renew acquaintances, with a very different result to the Prix Sagan in which many of these last ran, the winner that day only managing third this time.  Whilst some of these may have been lacking fitness, the winner Mésange Royale does appear to be progressing well.  Crickette River deserves a note after making a mistake at the last, without which she would have finished considerably closer, though it is not the first time that she has failed as a result of poor jumping. 

La Reine Chic, well below her best in the Prix Sagan, put up a better showing. 

Héraklès is the one to note from this.  He has had injury troubles and was disappointing in a very brief campaign last year, but seems to have much of his old ability, and looks well up to taking one or two of the numerous races of this nature in the autumn. 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Tuesday, October 6.

VIC TOTO JOINS FRANÇOIS DOUMEN
Vic Toto, winner of the 2001 Prix Alain du Breil (Hurdle) (Grade 1), Prix Amadou (Hurdle) (Group 2), Prix Carmarthen (Hurdle) (Grade 3), Prix de Compiegne (Grade 3) (Hurdle), and Prix Juigne (Grade 3) (Hurdle), plus a close second to Laveron in the 2002 Grande Course de Haies d`Auteuil (Hurdle) (Grade 1), has been moved from Mlle F Forneron`s yard after a disagreement about the horse's future plans and is now to be trained by Francois Doumen. 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Sunday, August 3.

AUTEUIL SUMMER
Christopher Iles reviews Auteuil`s June and July Meetings 

Auteuil, 30 May 2003
The two juvenile hurdles on the card threw up the winners for both colts' and fillies' championship events, Le Broadway and Aubane (though both were admittedly to be rather fortunate winners). The race Le Broadway won looked to be a decent contest, and unlike many races among the three year olds to date was run in quite a fast time; it suggests the four who finished close to the winner, Ruben Bravo, Baby du Rheu, Loco Lindo and Paladia, are pretty useful as well. 

Chase winner Aficion was on Martin Pipe's shopping list a couple of years back, failing a veterinary examination if I recall correctly. He hasn't been out much in the last couple of years, but this performance suggests he's still somewhere near as good as he was. Another useful but lightly-raced individual, Riverston, finished third; he's always had a good race in him, and is a big, powerful sort who'd prefer further than he got here; he won a weaker race than this on his next start.

Auteuil, 10 June 2003
Attention here was on Kotkijet, who beat his niece Kotkita by a comfortable eight lengths, making an entirely satisfactory reappearance from a long absence. With Kotkita and a couple of others with form not too far removed from the top level also running, this wasn't a bad race, and the likes of Dourakine and Miss Cadine will find easier opportunities than this.

Auteuil, 14 June 2003
A very high-class card.

The juvenile colts' championship, the Prix Aguado, was devalued by the absence of Positive Thinking (at the last minute) and Il Manifico, who had appeared to be the two best colts seen out so far. It turned out to be another race run at an unsatisfactorily slow pace, though it did suggest that the running of this year's Prix Wild Monarch was up to scratch, with the third and first in that race, Le Broadway and Nasha la Motte, filling the first two positions. Last year, the horses that fought out the finish went on to dominate in the more valuable contests in the autumn. I doubt that will prove to be the case this year, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the best colts this autumn come out of the Prix Finot this September.

Nickname reversed form with Bulougun when it mattered in the Prix Alain du Breil, beating her quite convincingly. This race, like their previous encounter, turned out to be the fastest race on the card, and either could turn out to be a future all-aged hurdling champion. Chasing would also be a possibility; Nickname has already been entered over fences, whilst Bulougun has the size for the game.

The third, Katoune, split the two last time out, and confirms that this was no one-off. 

The Prix des Drags was a slowly-run race, and somewhat unsatisfactory as a result. This did not suit the one-paced Batman Senora, who was beaten by a couple he'd finished well ahead of in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. The winner, Ty Benjam, was a late withdrawal from that race, and on this form might well have made the frame. He would have a chance next year, though his trainer is hoping to go to Nakayama instead. Cerilly improved with first-time blinkers. Sunny Flight was baulked on the approach to the first open ditch and ended up in the ditch, bringing down Oudry in the process. Jumping has not always been Sunny Flight's strong point, but he can be excused this.

There seems to be a shortage of top-class hurdlers in France, and the French Champion Hurdle reflected this; there was a home contingent of just five, only two of whom had displayed top-class form previously. The overseas contingent did not inspire as being top-class, either, and whilst the winner Nobody Told Me is clearly very useful and progressive, I do think she ran across a weak championship contest here and have to suspect that there are better staying hurdlers in Ireland at the moment. Karly Flight was disappointing. Her owner apparently required some persuasion to keep her in training for this season, and I can't help but wonder if this was her last race, which will leave the hurdling scene in France wide-open this autumn.

The Prix Katko, the novices' handicap chase, occasionally unearths a good horse, but more often than not produces as weak a race for £20,000 as can be found. This year's renewal does not exactly inspire me.

Auteuil, 20 June 2003
The principal race on the card was the juvenile fillies' championship, the Prix Sagan. This was an inconclusive race, with Aubane probably being lucky to beat the hampered and late-running Monita des Bois, with the favourite La Reine Chic (who had already beaten the winner here) putting in an obviously below-par performance, and another strongly-fancied contender Crickette River falling before matters had got serious.

Bica, who's been mentioned before as one likely to run over here this winter, won his race quite nicely, though the form does not seem to amount to much. We will know more about how good he is before he comes over. 

Turkish Junior is a once-promising horse who was returning here from a lay-off with leg troubles, and showed here that he is at least as good as he was. Sadly, he was to break down again on his next start, but should he manage to return again, he can win better races than this one.

Auteuil, 1 July 2003
Rather like the Grand National course, Auteuil is one of those racecourses where the bizarre becomes quite commonplace, even in races like the Prix Rigoletto here contested by small fields of good-quality older horses. Nine faced the starter here, five ended up on the deck, but only the first to fall, Kais Rose, did so in what can be described as typical circumstances. Frère Lumière contrived to get brought down by the loose horse on the bend, whilst the remaining three to depart did so after Cerilly refused and unseated his rider at the rail-ditch whilst disputing the lead, bringing down Oudry and Scandor, both hard on the leaders' heels at the time. This was the second race in a row that this had happened to Oudry...

This left Kotkijet with little to beat; he did that with no trouble. The race told us little in terms of how much ability he retains, though he can hardly be faulted for that, and it will be far more informative when he renews rivalry with the elite in the autumn.

Third-placed Saint Réalise has been disappointing, and has not turned out to be as good as he once promised to be.

Hurdling debutant Laska de Thais earned a particularly warm write-up in Paris-Turf, and it'll be interesting to see how he develops.

The Prix Dawn Run was a decent-quality hurdle and returned the best time on the card. The winner Blue Canyon is one of François Doumen`s, and has done very nicely in his first few runs over hurdles. He might make it to Cheltenham for one of the novice hurdles, though I'd suspect he'd find a couple too good for him there. In the meantime, he might land a decent handicap hurdle at Auteuil this autumn. Sixth-placed Samson ran fifth in the French Champion Hurdle, which does little for the form of that race.

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Sunday, August 3.

ILARE
Following up Christopher Iles` review on the French Gold Cup meeting, I thought it worth reiterating how much I still believe that Ilare would though be the horse I'd take out of the race. 

When you think how little race experience he actually has, he again ran really well behind Line Marine - what's more I've since been sent an excellent documentary which was made by French satellite channel Equidia, which followed Emmanuel Chevalier De Fau, as he prepared Ilare for the race.

It was a rush against time to get the horse ready for the Grand Steeplechase De Paris and he was clearly worried that the horse was too fresh. Basically his worst fears were realised as Ilare was always pulling far too much for his own good and gave his all trying to better an honorable fifth. The effort took its toll and Ilare virtually collapsed twice in the unsaddling enclosure. He eventually recovered, however He will take a while to get over these exertions.

Assuming they haven't left their mark, I cant help but think Ilare would be a much better proposition over here in a strongly run 3-miler, [a race like the King George VI Steeple ch` would be right up his street]. In any case the prospect of Ilare, Kotkijet  and Line Marine meeting in the autumn certainly wets the appetite. 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Tuesday, June 17.

LINE MARINE LANDS THE GRAND STEEPLECHASE DE PARIS.
Christopher Iles who witnessed Line Marine's victory, gives his thought on the day's events;

The Prix Stanley is a Listed race for three year old colts. The line-up looked odd, since aside from the favourite Positive Thinking most of the runners had either not run at Auteuil or had shown better form at Enghien. Positive Thinking had looked quite impressive in winning two slowly-run races at Auteuil, but appeared vulnerable to horses who'd run faster in more competitive races, especially as there was a confirmed pace-setter in the field in the shape of Mayev. 

The race did not turn out like this, as Mayev was held up at the back, and the race turned into a ridiculously slow crawl until Positive Thinking was turned loose midway along the back straight; he had to fight hard to hang on but never really looked like getting beaten. While the form of the race is probably worthless, Positive Thinking has done nothing wrong, and, physically, looked ahead of his rivals and quite likely to jump fences in the near future. 

The rØøk Has I noticed placed him in the new season's ONE TO JUMP feature along with stable-mate, Bica, who ran well here and looks to be another embryonic chaser in the making. 

The Prix de Longchamp saw the top four year old hurdler up to now, Nickname, turned over by the giant filly Bulougun. This was an odd race, run in driving rain. Bulougun was either blinkered or visored after her appearance in the parade ring, where she'd looked quite at ease, but was acting up on the racecourse as if it was the first time she'd worn them (she was not officially listed as running in blinkers, and had not done so before as far as I can tell). Anyhow she set off at a very strong pace, briefly looked in trouble two out, before accelerating clear again before the last to win very impressively in the end. The time was the quickest on the card, and the favourite was beaten fair and square - whether it will be repeated in a few days' time in the Prix Alain du Breil is another matter. 

The amateur riders' race often produces strange results, and this was another instance. On paper it appeared a match between Japhet and Master Tracy, but the latter broke down badly, and Japhet once again ran well below his best; though he came to win his race before the final turn, he faded badly from the last. The big races that he won as a four year old did not produce much in the way of future stars, and I have to suspect he is not quite as good as he once appeared to be. 

I can't help but think that this race is there for the taking for any decent hunter-chaser that is not suited by the longer trip at Stratford. 

The Prix La Barka was won easily by the obvious favourite, Karly Flight, who is going to take some beating in the Grande Course de Haies. Really, the hurdle division in France looks very thin at the moment, in the absence of Laveron, Le Sauvignon, Baracouda and Magnus - other than Katiki, there wasn't a locally-trained horse in the race that hadn't previously been well-beaten by Karly Flight, or that wasn't taking a huge step up in class. Of the Mullins runners, Holy Orders was disappointing, though he appeared to jump the big hurdles without too much trouble - on the other hand Nobody Told Me ran a very promising race indeed against much more experienced opponents. 

The Grade I chase for four year olds that followed is sometimes a strong race, sometimes a weak one, and this did not look to be one of the better renewals, beforehand, as those who had done well in the trials did not give the impression of being future chasing stars (indeed, with the exception of Lutin Ville, those with high-level chase form looked an unimpressive bunch, as well). However, after the race, matters appeared a bit different, as the first two home, Ice Mood and Kapgarde, were both very lightly-raced previously and had three wins from three chase starts between them beforehand...it's too early to say how far they will go yet, but it would be very surprising if they were to get beaten by the horses who finished behind them here. 

Ian Williams must be hoping the British handicapper does not take Batman Senora's run in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris too literally, as his second did flatter him. Life could be difficult for him next autumn, as he is not good enough for a Gold Cup, and he'd look very vulnerable off a big weight to something with a finish in a race like the Hennessy. 

There were five in the race who had a serious winning chance, and who would (in my opinion) win a Best Mate-less Gold Cup. Of these, Ilare was not fully fit (though ran reasonably under the circumstances), El Paso III was well-known to hate the ground, and both Sunny Flight and Jérico Vallis failed to give their running, pulling up before the giant open ditch on the final circuit. Jérico Vallis' exit was very sudden, as if he had gone lame, but he certainly appeared sound when he returned across the course. This left Line Marine to beat a horse without a change of pace (Batman Senora), a 12 year old who had shown often enough before that he is not quite champion class (Urga), a non-stayer (Rougénoir) and a horse who was not fully fit (Ilare). Of the others, Cerilly and Idole des Fontaines did not run to their best form, and Princelou was predictably out of his depth. 

A race full of incident, in the end, but not quite what it had promised to be beforehand. 

Christopher Iles
FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Tuesday, June 10.

MAGNUS
the rØøk defends the purchase of a now  fallen star.

Poor Magnus has had plenty of knockers of late.

I've noticed him coming in for plenty of stick on some racing forums where they were discussing expensive purchases 

At the time of his sale to David Johnson, Magnus was rated 1lb behind Barracouda, and would probably have been hard to beat in that season's French Champion Hurdle, having won his trail for that race easily. 

For a combination of reasons he didn't show anywhere near that level of form over here and back with Jacques Ortet in France might be a totally different proposition ... He'd have to go some to beat Karly Flight who couldn't have been more impression last term, however unlike over here I doubt Magnus wouldn't be expected to make an immediate impact. He is been popping in amongst the entries at Auteuil and we may see line up against Karly Flight if they can get him ready in time, the major races in the autumn are more realistic targets 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Monday, June 9.

KOTKIJET
Another horse about to make a return is the great Kotkijet, who is back in training with John-Paul Gallorini. Its probably asking a lot to expect him to make an immediate impact, however it will be interesting to see how he progresses by autumn time. Alex Wildenstein would like to win another French Gold Cup with him so his presence is this country in my view is still debatable, however it's quite conceivable that the King George may be a more realistic target... we shall see. 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Monday, June 9. 

FRENCH-TRAINED JUMPERS ALLOWED TO RACE FROM THEIR "HOME" HANDICAP MARK 
I read with interest the news that in future French-trained runners will now be able to race from their French handicap marks. We're used to see horses from the likes of Guilliame Macaire and François Doumen. This move does give some of these trainers greater opportunities for horses, which are difficult to place over there. More significantly, this might encourage the likes of Jacques Ortet, Thomas Trapenard, Thierry Civel and Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé to send some of their runners over here... certainly some of these have expressed an interest to do so ... this may be the incentive they required. 

FOCUS ON FRANCE 
Wednesday, May 28

"SPRING 2003" - THE STORY SO FAR...
Sunday, 20 April 2003
Christopher Iles brings us up to date with what's been happening so far this spring in France;

Auteuil, 2 March
The five year old Great Love was gaining his second big-race victory against his elders in the big conditions hurdle, though the race seemed to lack strength in depth, with Vic Toto failing to give his running, possibly on account of the heavy ground. Another to disappoint on account of the ground was Galant Moss - rumours that Pipe is planning on equipping him with amphibian hormone with a view to an autumn campaign here are unfounded so far as I know - whilst Cerilly and Rougénoir were obviously running here as a warm-up for a chasing campaign. 

The conditions chase was more interesting - on this running, Line Marine and Idole des Fontaines are working their way towards the top of the chasing tree. I do like Line Marine, who is consistent, versatile and very fast. All did not appear to be well with the disappointing Japhet, though he ran well up to a point. 

Auteuil, 9 March
A couple of horses who had been disappointing in England bounced back to form here, Kélami winning the handicap chase and Douze Douze over hurdles. Kélami is no longer, of course, eligible for novice chases, which makes me wonder if he will reappear this side of the Channel. Douze Douze looks happier going left-handed, though in fairness the races he contested going right-handed in England were at a somewhat higher level than those he has won at Auteuil; it will be interesting to see where he goes after this. 

Enghien, 12 March
The four year old chase looked interesting beforehand, though the winner Mermoz du Berlais has subsequently proved disappointing at Auteuil (perhaps he prefers Enghien, and we'll see if he returns here). The other who looked to be of note beforehand, Latitude, fell here and is looking frustrating.

The front-running Northerntown made a fine chase debut on a course that should suit him.

Auteuil, 16 March
The winner of the opener, Licara d`Airy, is a promising filly.

Sphinx du Berlais won his novice chase here, but has not progressed as I had hoped subsequently.

The Prix Troytown drew a smaller field than the Prix de Clermont-Tonnerre a couple of weeks earlier, but looked a better race, though which of the two races will prove more informative remains to be seen. Rougénoir made a fine return to fences, but was race-fit unlike the placed horses, and as Jérico Vallis was only just beaten on his reappearance, he'd seem the more likely to progress. Last year's Grand Steeple-chase de Paris winner Double Car still needed the run, despite a recent reappearance run over hurdles. Innox was well beaten here, but looks to run to a better level of form at Auteuil than he does in England.

One to note for next winter is Doumen`s hurdler Fools Rush In, who won the second division of the handicap hurdle and is showing improved form in such events. I doubt he will go to the top, but he could be placed to win similar races over here.

Enghien, 19 March
The event of note here was the chasing debut of top-class hurdler Kotkita. She won only narrowly, but her trainer afterwards commented that she did not like the sharp track and would be seen to better effect at Auteuil (where she has subsequently won). She could go places over fences.

Auteuil, 23 March
The first three year old hurdles of the season at Auteuil. There was a very poor turn-out for the fillies' event, but the colts' race looked quite decent.

Garde d`Estruval got the big chase win he's always threatened to; he was an exception to the rule that the Prix Lutteur III is won by five year olds at the bottom of the handicap, who get hammered for their success. It's asking a bit for him to win against the chasing elite, but it's not an impossibility and he's another possible for what looks like a very open Grand Steeple-chase de Paris. 

Yet another contender for that race is the winner of the amateur riders' chase, Hespoir d`Aurélie, who was the moral winner of the 1999 Prix Maurice Gillois, but has been very lightly campaigned since, and that generally over hurdles. 

The Grade II hurdle went to the younger horses, Great Love and Désir d'un Soir, largely in the absence of their elders, as only El Fuego of the remainder would have any sort of aspiration to the hurdling crown. 

Auteuil, 31 March
The conditions chase saw the reappearances of some very useful horses, most notably one-time Grand Steeple-chase de Paris runner-up Ilare. His sixth place here seemed disappointing on the face of it, as he had only ever been beaten by one horse previously, but he ran well for a long way after an extremely long absence. We will learn more with his next run. 

Others of note in the same race were the useful hurdlers Domloula and Dibea Times, the latter now with Guillaume Macaire but still under the same ownership that he had over here, and the formerly very useful Pussigny, a useful fast-ground hurdler a couple of years back. I'm not familiar with Blue Canyon, but he's obviously got ability to run second in a race of this nature.

In the conditions chase, formerly top-class Dustar actually managed to jump round for the first time in a couple of years and may yet be capable of returning to something like his best.

Auteuil, 4 April
A familiar group of names in the frame for the big four year old hurdle - Nickname, Cheler, Malcom, Royaléety, now joined by Katoune. They keep beating each other; while they're all clearly high-class, I do wonder if something else will come through to become the best of this year's hurdlers.

The four year old chase division, in contrast, doesn't seem to have produced anything exceptional yet.

Gwenn was a promising horse a couple of years ago, but has not raced for a very long time. This was an encouraging return, and, barring a 'bounce', could be in for a good season.

Auteuil, 13 April
The running rails had been moved around for this meeting, making either the hurdles course too short, or the chase course too long.

Jérico Vallis won an interesting, and apparently truly-run, trial for the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris here, but his two nearest opponents also look very interesting for that race on this performance, Idole des Fontaines establishing himself in the top bracket, and El Paso III confirming his well-being under a big weight and on ground that would not appear to have suited him. A promising run from last year's top four year old chaser Le Chablis in behind; though it would surprise me if he wins at this level this spring, more experience might help him do so in the autumn or next year. The disappointments in the race were Rougénoir and Double Car, though the latter returned minus a shoe.

Oudry ran well from the top of the handicap in the big hurdle; he ran some good races over fences last autumn and that seems where he is most likely to succeed after this. Tenth-placed Sergeant has been very lightly raced since a promising start over hurdles a couple of years ago, and it's possible that there are races to be won with him in a lesser grade than this.

The three year old hurdler Il Manifico has now won two from two, and may be set for further success. Fiumincino, who represents the best of the Enghien form so far, was well beaten here.

Enghien, 14 April
Foreman won a bad race well on his return to French hurdling after his winter spent racing in England.

Auteuil, 16 April
A winning chase debut from Licara d`Airy, who may be capable of going further in what looks a weak chase division to date. 

The five year old hurdle was the fastest race on the card, and a certain future winner from it is Corne d`Auroch, running for only the third time and beating some useful and far more experienced rivals here; he becomes eligible for handicaps now.

This page was updated on Tuesday October 07, 2003 at 03:31:43 PM

FOCUS ON FRANCE

POSTING TIME
Selections for Monday - Friday should be available after 9:30pm the previous evening, however on Saturday and Sunday due to other commitments won't be posted until after 8:30am those respective mornings unless otherwise stated. Hopefully this helps

	Current Articles
	2000 Speed Figures
	Archive - Section 1
	Archive - Section 2
	Archive - Section 3
	Archive - Section 4
	Archive - Section 5
	Archive - Section 6