12 National Hunt horses to follow as French racing resumes

Notepads at the ready, some of these run in the next few days.

James Reveley - French champion jockey 2016, Grande Steeple-Chase de Paris (2016,17,18)

“A horse that has impressed me quite a lot lately at home is Law Of Attraction, a three-year-old by Doctor Dino. He has been working quite well and he jumps like a stag. He would be one of the nicer three-year-olds I have sat on this winter. I’d say he will start off easily before heading to Auteuil, he shouldn’t be far away at all and then we can take it from there."

Trained by Guillaume Macaire, Law Of Attraction is declared to run in the 18.00 at Toulouse on Monday

Mickael Seror – Trainer based in Coye-la-Forêt, €1.2 million total prize money won in 2019

“The Golden Boy is the one for me, he has been a star all winter and has won two huge handicaps for us. He will now go for the Prix du President de la Republique (French Grand National) at Auteuil, this was always his main target so the confinement hasn’t changed anything in his routine, he’s in excellent form. I also have two really nice youngsters who will start off in AQPS 'bumpers' at Vichy. They are called Hera du Seuil and Hardy du Seuil, I think both of them have big futures."

Kevin Nabet – Multiple Grade One winning jockey, stable jockey to trainer David Cottin

"There’s loads of them, I’m lucky to have the support of many good people. One I am really hoping we get to see back to her best is Grimace, who is trained by David Cottin. She impressed me a lot when she won on debut at Pau, she then ran below par second time out. I think she is very good and she is in really good order at home so I am looking forward to her going over fences."

Grimace is declared to run in the 16.00 at Moulins on Tuesday

Felix de Giles – Cheltenham Festival-winning rider (Andytown 2009), 56 winners in 2019

“I really like a horse trained by Mickael Seror called Galerande, she’s a four-year-old who has had two runs. She unfortunately fell on debut at Pau in the winter but learned a lot from that, she then went to Auteuil and ran a brilliant race when only beaten a few lengths behind two nice horses, she gave me a great impression that day. I know they all like her in the yard, she’s still very green and I think she could be very good, especially when we get her over fences at Auteuil, which will hopefully be soon."

Charly Milpied – Commentator & presenter for French racing channel Equidia

“I was quite impressed with the debut run of Shawinigan, he finished third in what looked a nice race in the Prix Rush at Auteuil. He is trained by Dominique Bressou and hopefully we will see him run in Auteuil on May 16. For me he is one of the most promising three-year-olds I have seen so far, even if he was a bit green that day. He showed that he has got plenty of talent, he jumps well and he should progress a lot from that run."

Louisa Carberry – Trainer based in Sennonnes, married to ex-jockey Phillip Carberry

“We are lucky in the respect that we have lots of nice horses to look forward to at the moment. To be back racing is great and one we are looking forward to seeing is Gran Diose. He’s a four-year-old we like a lot but he is very big and will need one or two runs. He is working very well and is ready to debut, chasing will be his game and he’s one to watch for the future."

Gran Diose holds an entry over hurdles at Angers on the May 14

Jacques Ricou – Ex-jockey, five-times champion, rider of Jair Du Cochet

“It’s great to finally have racing back on, I’ve been riding out a bit in the mornings for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille and I really like a filly he trains called Loradame. She won nicely on debut and is progressing all the time, she ran a promising race at Compiegne in March and should hopefully be at Auteuil next weekend. I can tell you that all the yards down here in Royan are ready to get back out there and it should be interesting to watch."

Erwan Grall – Former assistant trainer to Guy Cherel & now trainer based in Maisons-Laffitte

“Astarablue is one I can’t wait to get out, he’s a four-year-old by Blue Bresil. He is ready to run and I think I will send him straight to Auteuil. He has never ran but he has been doing all his work at home like a professional, he’s done plenty of schooling. We are all excited to see him on the track and I think he could be the best horse I have in the yard."

Jonathan Plouganou – Cheltenham Festival 2020-winning rider with Easysland

“Obviously it's great to be getting racing back, I have been schooling some nice young horses for David Cottin recently and there’s a three-year-old called Noble I quite liked. Then there are some older horses I am looking forward to getting back on board. Next weekend at Auteuil I will take the ride on last year’s Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Carriacou in the Prix Murat (May 16) and he seems in good form."

Hugo Merienne – Young trainer based in Avilly-Saint Leonard, near Chantilly

“We have lots of young horses that are more for the autumn, but I have one that should debut in the Prix Wild Monarch at Auteuil, Celestial Sands is his name. He is a very nice young colt owned by Yorton Farm and is by their stallion Pethers Moon. He schooled beautifully on the grass last week and I expect him to run a solid race, we feel he will progress even more with some racing."

Haras de Saint-Voir – One of the leading jumps owner/breeders in France, breeder of Vautour

“Keep an eye on Henri Le Farceur, a three-year-old trained by Hugo Merienne. He is by Hunters Light and out of a mare that won on the Flat when trained by Henri-Francis Graffard. We won't see the best of him until he gets a little older but he is very promising and we have always liked him. Another horse who has done well for us this year is Grand Messe, she’s got a lot of class. Her trainer Anne-Sophie Pacault informs us that she has been working very well of late and we are excited to see her on the track again."

Camille Peltier – Young trainer based near Angers, next generation of Peltier training dynasty

“I like a horse we have called Thou Gris, he is going to run on Monday in Compiegne. We started him off at Angers before the confinement, he ran a nice race to finish fourth. It turned out that he scoped a little dirty (slightly sick) after the race that day, so we are hoping there is plenty of improvement in him. He has developed lots in the last few weeks and I think he is a good horse."

Thou Gris is declared to run in the 20.05 at Compiegne on Monday

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