The Prix Wild Monarch races at Auteuil continue to be some of the most important 3-year-old hurdle races in the French calendar.

Both of them showed plenty of promise in difficult conditions and are worth adding to the tracker.

I can't wait to see what he will do with the benefit of more time in the Henderson yard

She looks to be one of the more exciting AQPS debutantes that we have seen so far in 2025.

There are a couple of key names to note from the hurdle races at Angers on Sunday

I'll begin 2025 with a look at Anzadam and my thoughts on his Champion Hurdle chances.

He needs to be supplemented for the race, but there is certainly a case to be made that he will deliver a return on that investment.

As the weather and more importantly the ground begin to turn, we are likely to see some of the better French recruits on the track.

As the winter nights get longer, the season at Auteuil is coming to a close, so it's time for a little reflection.

I liked the way he stuck to the task and I think the switch to hurdles and ultimately a longer trip, is going to bring out the best in him.

Whilst the shine may have been taken off Il Est Francais this weekend, French Racing would appear to have a ready made replacement in Kaadam

The Mullins team have recruited so many Juveniles from France this year that I doubt if even the great man himself has an idea at this stage

In time, he is going to be a very well handicapped horse when he returns to the larger obstacles.

Some French Recruits are almost impossible to assess and she falls into that category.

An alternative is to look at the middle-distance races on the Flat in France and today's French Recruit, Le Bugiste, comes from that sphere.

His new connections will have little choice but to press on with his career in pattern races, but he shapes like a horse who will handle it

We can say that he won his only start in France under a hands ride and both the 2nd and 3rd have won since to boost the form.

I think he would probably have won that race and he is certainly not without a chance in the Wensleydale at Wetherby on Friday.

This has been a record year for the list, both in terms of numbers of horses recruited and downloads.....

I can't think of another horse who has gone from running in a Grade 2 hurdle at Merano in Italy in June to a Novice hurdle at Ludlow.