All eyes at the BHA & Racing Ireland will be on the return of racing in France, which was still up in the air until the President stepped in & gave his approval to race. With no racing in the UK and Ireland on the horizon despite the numerous rumours of running at Newcastle, when racing finally gets the green light to return behind closed doors.
So many lives have been lost & many others affected by the global pandemic Covid19 and they should never be forgotten, neither should the nurses, doctors, paramedics, care staff, delivery drivers, supermarket workers and all the other key workers. We salute you all….
This is the first racing blog post since March 12th for Cheltenham Gold Cup day & as many of you have seen, the festival has been slaughtered from many areas of the press despite following the Governments advice all the way & the country didn’t lockdown until March 23rd and we have asked this question in our series of interviews about Inside Racing : The cost of Covid19. We have spoken to a TV presenter, an Owner, Race course photographer and a Trainer to date and these are available on our website…
Back to the 10 race card at Longchamp & the opening race is at 9.55am, which is a 5f Group 3 and my preference is for DUHAIL, who was last seen finishing a short head runner up to Far Above from James Tate’s yard back in July 2019 in a 6f Deauville Listed race. This followed a victory on debut over 7f at Compiegne in April 2019 and a win here at Longchamp in June 2019 over 7f.
Skip forward 2 hours to 11.55am to the 1m Group 3 Prix de Fountainebleau and we have the return of VICTOR LUDORUM, the Andre Fabre trained unbeaten winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean – Luc Lagardere back on October 6th by 3/4’s of a length. Having won a maiden over C&D on debut back on September 1st by 3 & 1/2 lengths and made it 2 from 2 when landing a 1m race at Chantilly by the same margin just 13 days later. 3 from 3 all over 1m & Currently ODDS ON at 4/7 I will not be going against the favourite here…
Next up is the 12.25 Prix de La Grotte for 3YO Fillies only, Group 3 over 1m and the bookies have made Tropbeau the favourite here and I am looking to go against the Favourite with the Freddy Head trained KHAYZARAAN, who was 9th on debut on July 28th in a 6f maiden at Deauville before stepping up to 1m on August 23rd in a Deauville maiden, winning by 9 lengths and then made it 2 on the bounce over 1m when landing a stakes race at Chantilly by 4 & 1/2 lengths….
This is the last race I am covering… The 1.05 Prix D’Harcourt, 1m 2f, Group 2 and see’s the return of SOTTSASS, who was the winner of last season’s Prix De Jockey Club 1m 2f 110yds in May, when beating red hot favourite Persian King by 2 lengths at Chantilly before landing the Group 2 1m 4f Prix Niel at Longchamp by 1 & 1/4 lengths from Mutamatina on September 15th. Was last seen at Longchamp on October 6th, when finishing 3rd in the Arc to Waldgeist, with Enable in 2nd by 3 & 1/2 lengths. I cannot go against the ODDS ON favourite…
I do like the PLACE chance of SOUDANIA, who has won 5 from 7 starts last season with distances ranging from 1m 1f 97yds to 1m 2f 110yds and landed the Group 3 C&D Prix Du Orange by 3 lengths from Queen & was last seen finishing a 4 &1/2 lengths 4th on October 20th in the 1m 3f Group 2 Prix Du Consail De Paris. This trip suits..
I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the Inside Racing Series and we are looking forward to bringing a more usual type of interview in the very near future…
STAY SAFE…
Post by Rich Williams
Best wishes from all at Arseonlineracing….
arseonlineracing 