It was a busy week on the raiding front last week, as no fewer than nine British-trained horses took part in French races, including the Group Three Prix Sigy for Commonwealth Cup hopes and the French Grand National, carrying a huge purse of €225,000.
€71,310 made its way back to British interests though unfortunately there were no winners.
Enfant Roi provided the best result for British connections as he finished a close second yesterday in the French Grand National under Bertrand Lestrade to claim €49,500. Connections remain upbeat with the horse they claimed only last October for €20,051, noting that he was giving the winner 4kg in defeat and will be seen to better effect on a softer surface. If it rains ahead of the Grand Steeple de Paris on 23 May, he might be able to run into a place at a big price behind the David Cottin armada.
[LIVE🔴] #Auteuil #R1C3 Px du Président de la République (Gr3) 🏁 10-2-20-3-6. #FanfaronSpécial @FelixdeGiles battent un superbe #EnfantRoi, les deux gagnants des préparatoires « classiques » de la course. L’entraîneur Patrice Quinton avait gagné la course en 2020 avec Django ! pic.twitter.com/UJZt2VWhwQ
— France Galop (@francegalop) April 25, 2021
He could be quietly campaigned next season with the real Grand National in mind, according to his trainer:
After his heroic 2nd in the French Grand National, @JamesFGun’s Enfant Roi can barely keep his eyes open and having some down time back home in Gloucestershire! The main aim will be the Aintree National in 2022, first French jockey ever to win @lestradebertra1?! pic.twitter.com/VnBPXF4zoW
— Christian Leech (@Leech_Racing) April 26, 2021
It was not such a fortuitous raiding trip for the Nigel Tinkler pair at Chantilly last week. Dandy Dinmont managed fifth in the juvenile contest before the yard’s flagship horse Ubettabelieveit ran a lifeless race in the Group Three Prix Sigy behind the impressive Suesa. Frustrating all round, especially for jockey Rowan Scott who spent a week in quarantine in a Chantilly hotel.
Elsewhere Tom George’s 11-year-old Activial returned to a French race for the first time in six years. He has been going well in veterans’ chases in Britain but still looks in the grip of the handicapper on 138.
🏆 Happy Monarch (@lestradebertra1 / @EcurieNicolle) retrouve le chemin du succès à l'issue du Prix Arthur Veil-Picard à @Hippo_Auteuil.
Le fils de Saint des Saints n'avait plus passé le poteau en tête depuis le 1er juin 2019 (Prix James Hennessy).
🥈 Activial
🥉 Reliable Son pic.twitter.com/EfWO9p5jSw— Equidia (@equidia) April 21, 2021
The flashy grey was given a prominent ride by Reveley (who else?!) and split two very fair jumpers half his age, finishing second at Auteuil.
Back on the flat down in Toulouse, Archie Watson teamed up with Race Sharp contributor Theo Bachelot with maiden winner Laos in a Listed. Trapped wide throughout, he finished a brave fifth but seemed less effective than his first three career starts on the polytrack. He was tried in cheekpieces yesterday but may be best on the all-weather or even tried at Ascot, where polytrack form holds up well. He isn’t worth giving up on just yet.
🏆 Perseverants (@Auge95721194 – @teamchferland) décroche le Prix F.B.A Aymeri de Mauléon (Listed) à Toulouse.
Mouillage (JC.Rouget) et Seventh Kingdom (E.Monfort) complètent le podium. pic.twitter.com/v3i2QpkIZI
— Equidia (@equidia) April 25, 2021
British Raiders last week:
Date | Track | Horse | Trainer | PMU SP | Result | Pure Prizemoney | Premiums |
19-Apr | Saint-Cloud | Spinning Rainbows | G. Kelleway | 36 | 14 | €0 | €0 |
20-Apr | Chantilly | Dandy Dinmont | N. Tinkler | 4.2 | 5 | €1,350 | €0 |
20-Apr | Chantilly | Ubettabelieveit | N. Tinkler | 2.2 | 8 | €0 | €0 |
21-Apr | Auteuil | Activial | T. George | 7.3 | 2 | €10,800 | €0 |
21-Apr | Auteuil | Mcgroarty | S. Leech | 22 | 9 | €0 | €0 |
24-Apr | Nancy | Garde La Victoire | T. George | 3.5 | PU | €0 | €0 |
25-Apr | Toulouse | Laos | A. Watson | 6.5 | 5 | €2,750 | €1,485 |
25-Apr | Auteuil | Enfant Roi | S. Leech | 6.8 | 2 | €49,500 | €0 |
25-Apr | Auteuil | Espoir De Teillee | T. George | 21 | 6 | €5,425 | €0 |