Marseille Borely Tips and Racecourse Guide
Marseille Borely has a spectacular location by the sea just outside the centre of Marseille, near the Velodrome football ground. Racing began at Borely in 1860 and the racecourse takes its name from the Chateau under which is was based.
Trotting only came in the 1960s and it hosts the best quality racing in the south. The quality of the program has benefitted from the strength of local Calas trainers, including Jerome Reynier and Frederic Rossi.
The shortest trip is 950m (just under five furlongs) and there can be some fair juvenile contests run at the course.
The Grand Prix de Marseille is the highlight in November. The quality varies but in the 2013 the race was the swansong for 2012 Prix du Jockey Club winner Saonois, whilst future Group Two winner L’Amour De Ma Vie ran down the field.

Marseille Borely Tips
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 16/03
The first two year old race of the season in France takes place at Marseille Borely today (10.50am) and I can’t resist backing Kaleocreek to make a winning start.
Trainer Christophe Escuder produced the winner of this race a year ago, with subsequent Listed winner Hayejohn (who has some part-owners in common with Kaleocreek). He was a little unfortunate not to win his first four starts, so it is obviously encouraging that his trainer has targeted Kaleocreek at this.
Sire Bow Creek certainly gets his fair share of winners (including smart performers Breizh Eagle and Got Socks) and this second foal of a 6/7f winner is from the family of winning machines Bayoun and Bamiyan.
His trainer has given him a positive mention in the lead-up to this and he is worth a small bet, despite the price having been nibbled at as soon as it opened!
10.50am Marseille – 1pt win Kaleocreek @ 3-1 (all firms)
Later on the card, Viriatus looks a really interesting recruit for the excellent Jerome Reynier and is worth backing to make a successful start in the 1m maiden (11.50am) at his local track.
The son of Sioux Nation fetched €87,000 as a yearling and made a really promising start in a maiden at Chantilly in November on his sole outing to date, when in the care of Romain Le Dren Doleuze. He quickened nicely in the straight that day and though ultimately no match for the winner, it was a highly-promising start. The third was runner-up next time, while the fourth won on his next outing and the fifth has won twice, with both receiving big-race entries.
This doesn’t look much of a race, with the exception of the Rouget representative Edala. However, she has had four chances and doesn’t look to be progressing.
11.50am Marseille – 1pt win Viriatus @ 2-1 (all firms)
Elsewhere on the card, Blas is the obvious one in the 1m2f handicap (1.07pm), but he is priced accordingly and I was tempted to take a chance on Andfield Park against him.
Sebastien Culin’s representative bolted up in a weak race on good ground on debut at Divonne last September before finishing sixth in Listed company at Lyon next time. That shows how highly he is regarded, and he had a poor trip that day, racing wide throughout and getting hampered in the straight.
He shaped as though badly in need of the run on reappearance at Cagnes a month ago, when finishing last in the Prix de Porquerolles, but there should be plenty of improvement to come, and he has the physical scope to progress well this year.
However, the 7/2 on offer doesn’t represent a great deal of value, so I’ll just be watching today.
Marseille Borely Top Trainers (2020)

1. Frederic Rossi 16 wins (17%)
2. Jerome Reynier 16 wins (16%)
3. Christophe Escuder 13 wins (10%)
4. Fabrice Vermeulen 11 wins (20%)
5. Cedric Rossi 6 wins (11%)
Marseille Borely Top Jockeys (2020)

1. Franck Blondel 14 wins (23%)
2. Ambre Molins 7 wins (21%)
3. Antonio Orani 7 wins (16%)
4. Gregorie Legras 6 wins (18%)
5. Sylvain Ruis 6 wins (10%)
How to get there
Metro/Bus
Marseille Borely is better served than Marseille Vivaux by public transport and is in a much nicer part of town. The most direct way to the course is to take the 583 bus (pink route) along the coast to Plage Planches à Voile, where you will see the racecourse on the coast.
There is no dedicated metro station but the racecourse is near the Velodrome football stadium. Take the metro to Rond Point du Prado and from there it is a pleasant 30-minute walk through parkland.
Taxi
It is a 15-minute drive from the Vieux Port to Marseille Borely if there is light traffic.
Marseille Borely Top Races
Listed Prix Delahante
Listed La Coupe de Marseille
Marseille Borely Map
Marseille Borely Tips Archives
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 13/11
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. A 1m2f Listed contest is the feature on today's early card at Marseille Borely...
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 24/10
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. National Service has conditions in his favour today and is a confident selection in the...
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 10/10
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. Namora hasn’t lived up to expectations thus far, but Manon Scandella-Lacaille looks to have...
Marseille-Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 03/10
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille-Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. Slightly calmer waters today as we attack Marseille-Borely in the provinces. ...
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 15/09 Pt 2
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille-Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. We’re taking fitness on trust, but Isotta has the best form in the book in the 1m5f maiden...
Marseille-Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 15/09
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Marseille-Borely throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. A very early stakes race today so I'll keep this brief! Jean-Claude Rouget's Long...
Marseille Borely Horse Racing Tips Today – 08/09
Jerome Reynier has a typically strong hand at Marseille today and I'm hoping Garancieres can give him another course win this season in the 1m2f maiden (1.07pm). She has been unlucky in the run on more than one occasion this season, and her mark isn't...
French Racing Tips – 06/05 Pt 2
One bet on the card at Marseille Borely, Mazal Tov in the 6f handicap (3.52pm). She finished second in a 7.5f AW claimer on her first start for this yard in March (having raced at 7-7.5f on all outings at two for Charley Rossi), and went one better on her next run...
French Racing Tips – 29/04
The Classe 3 contest at Marseille-Borely looks a competitive heat, in fact, not far off being a handicap with most horses racing off 57kg and rated 40.0. Like most conditions races in France, the penalties are based on having won similar races but good performances in...
French Racing Tips – 14 November
A heavy ground juvenile conditions race where the two market leaders are by Authorized and Rock of Gibraltar may not be everyone's cup of tea/coffee on a Sunday morning, but I think the price disparity between the two is too big in the opener at Marseille-Borely....