Over 1,000 Entered For French Return

[Wandering Eyes]

French racing will return behind closed doors on Monday after being off since Mar. 16 due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and the initial three cards at ParisLongchamp, Toulouse and Compiegne have drawn a whopping 1,069 entries.

ParisLongchamp, which received clearance on Monday to stage its meeting in the nation’s capital, has drawn a total of 257 entries across 10 races. The card’s feature races are the G2 Prix d’Harcourt and Group 3 Prix la Grotte, Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix de Saint-Georges. Last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) anchors 13 entered for the Harcourt, and he is set to face the likes of Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), unbeaten in his last seven including three pattern races; last year’s G1 Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal); last year’s G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil winner Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and the group-winning fillies Simona (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Villa Rosa (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) and Soudania (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The Harcourt carries a purse of €90,000; last year it was worth €130,000.

Last year’s G1 Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Victor Ludorum (Ire) (Shamardal) is favoured for the Fontainebleau ahead of his Andre Fabre stablemate and G1 Middle Park S. winner Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), with both of those Godolphin homebreds tuning up for a Classic campaign. In the Grotte, the 3-year-old fillies get their shot, and G3 Prix Six Perfections and G2 Prix du Calvados victress Tropbeau (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) faces off against the likes of Emoji (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who got a start under her belt the day before racing was shut down with a two-length victory in the Listed Prix la Camargo. The Fontainebleau and Grotte are each worth €56,000 this year, down from €80,000 last year.

ParisLongchamp’s most subscribed race is a mile handicap for 3-year-olds worth €24,000 that drew 82 entries. The biggest entry for the day, however, goes to a mile handicap for older horses at Toulouse that drew 121 entries. Toulouse will on Monday feature seven flat and three jumps races, while Compiegne has a nine-race jumps card.

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