I haven't felt like watching racing this week. In light of recent events, it can be very hard to watch this sport when something like this happens. My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Michael O'Sullivan. It can often be easy to forget the risks being taken by Jockeys every day to do the sport that they love and to bring us entertainment and in my case a career as well. The show must and will go on, but it has still been a good time to stop and think about the human side of the sport and what it can mean. However, I have managed to put some work together and looking back on Sundays card at Angers, there were a couple of horses that seemed worthy of note. Solness ran on this card 3-years ago and whilst I don't intend to suggest that we saw anything of his quality, there are a couple of key names to note from the hurdle races. Here are my notes;
Winner | Time | Réduction Km | Final Circuit |
Lagon Bleu | 256.22 | 75.35 | 131.85 |
Dora Magic Pelem | 253.67 | 74.60 | 135.18 |
Light Wave | 296.11 | 77.92 | 133.29 |
Jaguar des Obeaux | 309.77 | 75.55 | 134.23 |
PRIX SAINT-GEORGES
A debut win for Lagon Bleu (Zarak). Having tracked the pace, he has taken up the running with 3-furlongs to run, keeping on with the rail to help and holding the 2nd at 5-lengths distance. Le Grand Lux (2nd) has traveled nicely to the 3rd last and although the winner has got the first run, he has kept on well to finish 6-lengths clear of the rest.
Oxmo du Mathan (3rd) had finished 3rd in a Flat race at Pompadour last summer. Ran well to a point on his hurdles debut for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, but lacked the pace to go with the winner.
PRIX ROGER CROSSOUARD
Dora Magic Pelem was 0-9 on the Flat with an official rating of 26-kilos. She has tracked the leader here, jumping straighter, before coming to the stands rail to win going away. She has traveled better on her hurdles debut, but was probably suited by having a tow into the race from the eventual 3rd, La Fleur Au Fusil.
Esastar (2nd) has had to work hard to get on terms from mid-division and simply didn’t have the Flat speed of the winner after the last. She is a Goliath du Berlais filly and a half-sister to Milord Thomas owned by the Bryants.
Le Fleur Au Fusil led for the majority of the race but lost ground by jumping to her left. She tired late but should improve. Her Dam reached a rating of 73-kilos.
PRIX DE L'ILE DE BEHUARD
A 10-length win for Light Wave. This was his first success since winning at Auteuil in September 2023, though he has missed plenty of time since. He was suited by the steadily run first circuit that allowed this to turn into a speed test against a largely AQPS and National Hunt bred field.
PRIX HENRY RIDGWAY
Jaguar des Obeaux has run down Kalca Mome (2nd) in the closing stages, but they are both probably fortunate given that Hooker de Brenus fell at the last when coming with a winning run on the stands rail. Neither the 1st or 2nd look to have run to their ratings.
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