The Prix Stanley has become a "stallion" race in recent years. This year's winner is a gelding, so that trend won't be added to, but he's a very good 3-year-old hurdler all the same.

Mambonumberfive, St Donat's, Gaelic Warrior and Sans Bruit have all run in the Prix Rocking Chair in the last 5 seasons. Did we see a horse of that ability in this year's renewal? Well quite possibly.

After such an impressive debut, his connections must be thinking about the Graded races in the autumn, if British and Irish suitors don't tempt them to sell.

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

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.

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.

The final circuit time was exceptional when compared to the other races on the card and despite looking green late on, he could be a star.

"This was a nice performance and there may well be more to come from this piece of form"

She at least matched the Colts and Geldings and if she were to repeat that effort next month, she is going to be very hard to beat.