Prix La Barka (and other Irish entries)

Irish Stamp

Irish Stamp

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Thought some on here might like to know who Willie Mullins etc. have entered at Auteuil next Sunday.

Jumbo Rio (Prix De Longchamp G3)
Fiveforthree (Prix La Barka G2)
Kempes (Prix La Barka G2)
Barker (Prix La Barka G2)
Shakervilz (Prix La Barka G2)
Deutschland (Prix La Barka G2)
J'y Vole (Prix La Barka G2)
Quevega (Prix La Barka G2)
Pomme Tiepy (Grand-Steeplechase De Paris G1)

It looks a relatively weak renewal of the GSP - with leading 5yo Oculi out injured and his rival Loulia likely to go in the Barka. Cyrlight, Musica Bella, Remember Rose, Mid Dancer and dual GSP winner Princesse D'Anjou are the most notable entries.

The Prix La Barka looks far more competitive with the Mullins mob likely to be opposed by Loulia, Or Noir De Somoza and rising star Questarabad and Cagnes-Sur-Mer specialist Wutzeline whilst Jumbo Rio is likely to encounter former French Derby candidate Blue Bresil in his race.
 
GSdP look pretty-much representative to me, Martin - it's never the strongest staying chase of the year by any stretch of the imagination. I'd love to see Cyrlight win it, but I don't think he truly stays this far.

As for the Barka, I agree that it looks a much stronger contest, and I'd be severely disappointed if Mullins didn't get the 1-2 with the mare and Fiveforthree.....though I'm not sure which order they will finish! :)

You got a link to the entries for the meeting?
 
Anyone been to Auteuil? My better half and I are thinking of going next year.

Been to Longchamp a couple of times but I'd like to go and see some jump racing over there.
 
http://www2.france-galop.com/FGWeb/domaines/courses/courses_calendrier.aspx?L=en

Not sure about a Mullins 1-2 - expect the light season they've had will be an advantage but Questarabad is no mug.

The other interesting race for me is the Ferdinand Dufaure - Long Run vs. the front three from the Jean Stern (Marescou, Miserable and Rubi Ball). Would love to see Miserable take this and show that his win last November wasn't a fluke though if Cottin keeps the ride Long Run will be very hard to beat.

Rendon's Grace is supposedly quite decent and he's likely to oppose Jumbo Rio whilst from a breeding perspective Garry Flight (Ballingarry X Karly Flight) is probably the most interesting runner on the card being by a Grade 1 winner and out of a French Champion Hurdler. His record thus far being a win and a second from two hurdles starts whilst he was runner-up on his flat debut last week. He may well be opposed by Telesky (the Mon Mome/Kauto Star mix) who's also entered.

You going by any chance Grassy?
 
Auteuil comes with a hearty recommendation from me, Katherine. It's a doddle to get to, entrance is free to the Grand Prix meetings, there's plenty of seating, and the food is top-notch (as you would expect).

It also costs nothing to book a seat in the panoramic restaurant, where a bottle of chilled plonk and a four-course meal for two will only set you back about E100.

Sadly, no trip to the GSdP for me, Martin - the missus has insisted on ventures further afield as part of her ongoing birthday celebrations (she thinks she's the Queen of fecking Sheba!). Plans are being laid-down for a jolly-boys away for the International Jumps Weekend though.
 
Think J'y Vole is an interesting entry. Should be pretty fresh and will handle the likely testing ground.
 
Grasshopper said:
Auteuil comes with a hearty recommendation from me, Katherine. It's a doddle to get to, entrance is free to the Grand Prix meetings, there's plenty of seating, and the food is top-notch (as you would expect).

It also costs nothing to book a seat in the panoramic restaurant, where a bottle of chilled plonk and a four-course meal for two will only set you back about E100.
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Thanks for that, Grasshopper. I'd say we'll almost certainly go, as we've been thinking of it for a while.

I just wish the British trainers would turn their eye to Auteuil. The prizes on offer throughout the season are fantastic.
 
Definitely go Katharine - it's my favourite racecourse, great viewing all the way round, a mix of great fences (none of this birch nonsense) and top class racehorses.

Went with my OH for the International weekend in November, took in two days at Auteuil and a day at Enghien (half of Ireland seemed to be at Enghien) on the Friday. Both cracking courses and very easy to get to on the RER/suburban trains from Gare-du-Nord :)

The prizes are indeed fantastic - the RP even sponsor the big 3yo hurdle in November. The form stands up very well too so makes the jumps races great betting mediums :)
 
So far, nothing but thumbs up for Auteuil. I'm not sure I needed much persuading!

What about the Grand Steeplechase this year, then? Mid Dancer? Remember Rose?

I admit that I haven't followed French jump racing too much over the last year or two, so I'm a bit out of touch. I still miss Kotkijet.

I don't suppose we'll ever see Kauto Star finish his career in this race. Perhaps not ideal conditions for him, especially if the ground was bad. But it would be fitting for him to sign off at Auteuil one day.
 
It's a tough and competitive renewal Katharine - I've liked Remember Rose (who beat Master Minded 8 lengths when they were 4yos) for a good while, since before last years Jousselin and now he's a year older and fingers crossed a year stronger he'll be better equipped to handle the course and distance. Mid Dancer has won it in the past and on his form in 2009 appears to be back to his best. Princesse D'Anjou has had a relatively poor start to the season by her standards but has won this twice in the past including last year so I wouldn't be one to right her off.

Would be great to see Kauto run over there but not sure the 3m 5f would suit him. Much more likely to suit Jim Dreaper's Notre Pere IMO who jumps very well, stays well and needs bottomless ground. Sadly Paul Nicholls Auteuil involvement seems to revolve around slating the ground and trying to buy the horses that run on it.
 
Apart from routinely rating the strength of the GSdP about a stone higher than it's actually worth, you are spot on in your assessment of the race, Irish. :D

Notre Pere is a great shout actually, and Madison Du Berlais could win this without coming out of a canter.

It has always amazed me why so few UK/Irish trainers target the big races at Auteuil. To be fair, the GSdP does come at time when most decent jumpers are being roughed-off, but there is absolutely no excuse for them to avoid the Jousellin in November - especially when it pays more than the Hennessy and Jim Nicholson combined.
 
Notre Pere was actually a horse that Trackside mentioned to me but he would be bob on for the event.

The Joussellin would if the British/Irish really think their horses are the best in the world be the easiest 250k they'll ever make. The authorities would probably pay the expenses too and a horse like Denman would be running off levels compared to conceding weight away all round in the Hennessy.
 
Judged on the quotes on www.frogsracing.com it looks like Pomme Tiepy is a definite for the Grande Steeplechase and Quevega and J'y Vole both go in the Barka. No mention of Fiveforthree but hopefully they'll send him too, next forfeit stage is Wednesday.
 
It's much easier for the British trainers at least to keep their horses at home and complain there aren't many options for them. ;)

I heard that a few times again last season, and not just about novice chasers either.
 
There's plenty of options for them Katharine they just don't want to take them. In fairness to British trainers unless they have a 3 or 4yo they'll be racing in open races if they choose to go to France anyway.
 
Irish Stamp said:
There's plenty of options for them Katharine they just don't want to take them.
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That's certainly true in some cases.

I was just thinking about horses which are badly handicapped over here and are not good enough to beat the best in the top races.

Nicholls has had a fair few of those types in recent years (My Will is an obvious example), although as you say, he made his feelings clear about Auteuil this year.
 
True enough Katharine :)

Quevega, J'y Vole and Kempes left in the Prix La Barka. Pomme Tiepy in the big one and Jumbo Rio still in the Prix De Longchamp at the latest entry stage.
 
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