Imagine having a race card with just 3 hurdle races on it, mixed in with some trotting contests, where it is only possible to bet on the racing if you're on course. Oh, and theres €99,000 in prize-money on offer across the 3 hurdle races. In the UK and Ireland that would be almost unthinkable, yet in France it can be quite a regular occurance and that's just what took place at Nantes on Monday. This mixed card included the Class1 Grande Course de Haies D'Automne, with €49,000 on offer for this race alone. The contest was won by Caligramme, who was placed in Listed company at Auteuil back in the Spring, but the winner is to some degree irrelevant and serves better as an example of the type of horse that a course can attract if they put on good prize-money. As this was a PMH meeting, the form will not be reported on Racing sites in the UK and as such there can be an edge to watching these races for betting purposes too. I have included my notes and the time comparisons for the winners below, with the 3YO hurdle winner Loup Blond, the most interesting horse to note for the future.
NANTES - 7th October
Tres Souple 4,0
Winner | Time | Réduction Km | Final Circuit |
Loup Blond | 257.51 | 73.57 | 145.90 |
Kelya | 293.21 | 75.18 | 149.30 |
Caligramme | 288.60 | 74.00 | 146.10 |
PRIX DES CONSCRITS
Loup Blond took time to get to the front and had to be driven from the back of the 3rd last, but once there, he asserted when reaching the rising ground. He is closely related to Jazzy Matty and made an excellent start here.
C Comme Ca (2nd) has a Flat rating of 31-Kg (1-8) and he stayed on to pass the long time leader Let Me Dream (3rd) who was making his hurdles debut for Joel Boisnard after finishing 3rd in an AQPS Flat race at Beaupreau in August. They were fully 20-lengths clear of the 4th.
PRIX DE LA VENDEE
Kelya was able to race prominently and once in front turning for home, Geoffrey Re headed for the stands rail and was always holding on from Kepler (2nd) who came from out of the pack. The winner had been a narrow 2nd on hurdles debut behind Kahavari at Moulins last month, whilst the 3rd placed Kid of Storm had been an AQPS winner here in June. As a result, the form of Kepler on debut can be upgraded here and he should win races.
GRANDE COURSE DE HAIES D'AUTOMNE
Caligramme was winning for the 4th time in 10 starts and had pattern form at Auteuil in the Spring. He raced handily and out-battled Beau Gosse (2nd) on the run-in. A rating of 61.5-kilos perhaps underestimates him slightly, though he was well placed to win €23k here.
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