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17 Dec 12
13:36
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05 Jun 08
How strong is French national hunt racing? it's not something I'm familiar with other than the plethora of young promising types to hit these parts over the last ten years or so.
French racing and prize money is extremely healthy thanks to the PM monopoly yet it seems owners are happy to take the Irish euro or English pound when one of maybe twenty big players comes knocking so I must assume they feel they are being overpaid for their stock which hardly comes as a surprise.
As you know I keep a close eye of the Irish pointing scene and good, promising types also get well rewarded at teh sales but my gut feeling is that a very large number of these are failing to deliver on the promise in recent times. I'm sure Richard Pugh would disagree with me as record numbers of former pointers are winning regularly under rules but my impression is that the Irish-bred point-to-pointer is not taking as high a rank, particularly in the UK, as might have been expected based on ring prices.
I might get a chance over Christmas to prove my theory. McCain, Russell, Hobbs, Jonjo and Nicholls are particular fans but they don't seem to find the top-notchers.
French racing and prize money is extremely healthy thanks to the PM monopoly yet it seems owners are happy to take the Irish euro or English pound when one of maybe twenty big players comes knocking so I must assume they feel they are being overpaid for their stock which hardly comes as a surprise.
As you know I keep a close eye of the Irish pointing scene and good, promising types also get well rewarded at teh sales but my gut feeling is that a very large number of these are failing to deliver on the promise in recent times. I'm sure Richard Pugh would disagree with me as record numbers of former pointers are winning regularly under rules but my impression is that the Irish-bred point-to-pointer is not taking as high a rank, particularly in the UK, as might have been expected based on ring prices.
I might get a chance over Christmas to prove my theory. McCain, Russell, Hobbs, Jonjo and Nicholls are particular fans but they don't seem to find the top-notchers.
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The price paid for Irish maiden point winners amazes me.While one would expect an odd one to make a six figure price it is mindboggling how many actually make it.Their record over the last couple of years is to my mind quite poor with Present Lodger another example yesterday.
Maybe sometime over the holiday period I might get around to listing the horses who made 100k plus at these so called boutique sales.Their subsequent performances might make interesting reading.
Maybe sometime over the holiday period I might get around to listing the horses who made 100k plus at these so called boutique sales.Their subsequent performances might make interesting reading.
Rocky Creek, I'm sure you remember him R/A,
Slightly Tanned is worth looking up too Jay Trump - horse is a nutter too.
I know where the value lies when it comes to buying one of the following a) An Irish Pointer, b) a French horse and c) a UK pointer.
There was supposed to be a really nice horse that falls into the last named category at the sales last Friday but unfortunately he slipped a hock after winning his Maiden and is for all intents and purposes now retired.
French NH racing is very strong - if you buy from the right folk you'll get a good horse and if you buy (like Nicholls) does out of the traditionally strong races for youngsters, say the Prix Finot or the Prix Pride Of Kildare (won by Exotic Dancer, Azertyuiop and others in the past). Saw him over there with Bromley and Skelton for the colts version of the Finot this year - sure he bought something but certainly nothing of any real quality in there. The owners are only willing to sell for the right price in France - the best place to get something value wise is probably out of a claiming hurdle, the lower end of the claiming hurdles 8-12k as conditions chase and hurdle winners can regularly be racing for upwards of 25k so it makes selling on a far less attractive proposition unless you really throw the money at them.
I know where the value lies when it comes to buying one of the following a) An Irish Pointer, b) a French horse and c) a UK pointer.
There was supposed to be a really nice horse that falls into the last named category at the sales last Friday but unfortunately he slipped a hock after winning his Maiden and is for all intents and purposes now retired.
French NH racing is very strong - if you buy from the right folk you'll get a good horse and if you buy (like Nicholls) does out of the traditionally strong races for youngsters, say the Prix Finot or the Prix Pride Of Kildare (won by Exotic Dancer, Azertyuiop and others in the past). Saw him over there with Bromley and Skelton for the colts version of the Finot this year - sure he bought something but certainly nothing of any real quality in there. The owners are only willing to sell for the right price in France - the best place to get something value wise is probably out of a claiming hurdle, the lower end of the claiming hurdles 8-12k as conditions chase and hurdle winners can regularly be racing for upwards of 25k so it makes selling on a far less attractive proposition unless you really throw the money at them.
Rocky Creek is possibly a horse going places Jay but he typifies why these pointers lose my interest when they go to high-profile owners and trainers: they are just way too visible to the betting public. RC's racing record under rules so far: L 8/11, W 5/2, L @ Chelters, L Evs & W 4/6, so he needed to be Cheltenham winning material for the punter to benefit.
I far prefer my Marble House's and Carrigeen Lechuga's from off the radar. A few from last season that might be well-handicapped are Edmundo, Western Man and Sh Bam.
On the subject of imports I remember one of my favourite trainers, Derek Kent, used to import New Zealand-bred chasers back in the day with some success.
I far prefer my Marble House's and Carrigeen Lechuga's from off the radar. A few from last season that might be well-handicapped are Edmundo, Western Man and Sh Bam.
On the subject of imports I remember one of my favourite trainers, Derek Kent, used to import New Zealand-bred chasers back in the day with some success.
Are you familiar with French NH racing as regards atmosphere and following Princesse? It seems to slip off the radar almost entirely over here. You don't expect the cosmopolitan Parisienne (yours truly excepted)to be in attendance more so the garlic-eating, provincial farmer with a funny hat.
haha the Paris tracks are basically frequented by the same punters - whether it's NH or flat so you'll see the same faces at ML as you will at Longchamp, Saint-Cloud, Auteuil, Enghien etc. The provincial racing has a far more local feel to it - particularly the Summer meetings with many XC Chases and small field hurdles, unique fences on the Chase course etc.
Most people ignore it - both in the UK and Ireland, did notice an Alex Hales runner in the provinces over the Summer and one I'd seen running in UK points last season with strictly limited success.
Most people ignore it - both in the UK and Ireland, did notice an Alex Hales runner in the provinces over the Summer and one I'd seen running in UK points last season with strictly limited success.
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