"This was a very striking debut and I can’t help but feel that both the visual impression and the data suggest that this filly will be a stakes performer".

"Given the way that Hawk Mountain finished his race, he would appear to be the Ballydoyle number one for the Prix du Jockey Club".

"He is just about the best of the 3-year-old Colts in France, but he certainly isn’t out on his own, so I will hold on before I pencil him in as a Classic winner".

"She is clearly talented and if she can be persuaded to consent, she may well prove to be a class above this field".

"After watching her demolish the field in the Prix Cleopatre on Friday afternoon, I’d be confident enough to say that she is the best 3-year-old filly in France".

"As fillies trials go, this looks to be one of the better ones and she must now rank amongst the favourites for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches".

I am in no doubt that he should be capable of developing into a Group 1 performer later in the season based on the evidence that we have from this performance.

"I thought that he was the best horse in this field and he should get the chance to go one better with a clear run around next time".

There are just one or two signs from the All-Weather cards that some of the better horses are stepping up their preparations for the season ahead. One such sign came in the final race on Friday nights card at Deauville in the Prix Priolo.

This race has a serious pedigree. The last 3 renewals have all been won by Jean-Claude Rouget with Ace Impact (2023), Arrow Eagle (2024) and Leffard (2025) who all went on to win in Group 1 company. Here's my review of the 2026 renewal.

Jean-Claude Rouget is no stranger to the Cagnes-Sur-Mer winner’s enclosure, but he won’t have had too many winners here that were as comfortable as AFANDY.

This race was won by Jade de Grugy in 2022, whilst there may not have been a horse of that quality on show on Sunday, the pedigree of the 3rd makes her of interest for the future after a promising debut.

The Prix Pride of Kildare has produced the likes of Live Conti, Jazzy Matty and Haut En Couleurs in recent seasons, here is my review of this year's race.

Her full-sister Livio sold to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for €260k at Arqana last year and it will be interesting to see if she remains in France.

"He had to be shaken up when the field turned for home, but he quickly asserted in the straight and was clearly the best 3YO in the contest"

A few notes on yesterday's 3YO hurdle at Strasbourg, where Mondoctor Jem, a half-brother to the great Theleme, was the eye-catcher to add to the tracker.

Here is the 2025 "French Recruits" list for the new National Hunt season.

Given the way she travels into her races, the stronger early pace that she is likely to encounter in the UK should suit and once she has acclimatised, I expect her to add further wins to her CV.

"there’s no reason to think that she won’t be able to add further success in Group company to her CV before the end of the year".

Mont de Soleil is a very capable performer at this level and the fact that he has now won over 2,000m does open some further options to him. However, we know an awful lot about the horses that he has beaten and neither of them can be considered to be improving types.