French racecourses

[GeorgeJ]

I am wondering whether any forum member is familiar with Longchamps and/or Chantilly racecourses, and if so could suggest which UK courses they most resemble in terms of their characteristics? In particular, are they “galloping” courses like, for example, York and Haydock, undulating like Epsom and Goodwood, or “tight” like Chester and Windsor? All I’ve been able to find on the net so far is their handied-ness and that Longchamps has a stiff uphill finish.

Thanks in advance for any information members can provide.

[Chivers1987]

Not sure about what courses they resemble in UK but they definitely favour an inside to middle draw. Anyone drawn out wide has to be pretty good to win from there.

[LD73]

The nearest UK racecourse with similar characteristics to both French courses would for me probably be Sandown Park due to its long home straight (around 4F) and its 5F (1000m) track that runs through the middle of the course (similar to the one at Longchamp).

Chantilly has a 3F home straight up to the winning post which is only slightly uphill right at the end – however, the straight then continues on well past the winning line (see the attached link to the racecourse map). It is the French equivalent of Newmarket being that it also is the main racehorse training centre & home to around 2500 horses.

All of these courses are what would be considered as big galloping tracks but Sandown has by far the stiffest uphill finish of the three. Interestingly Longchamp actually has four courses, one uses the inner loop, with two more using the outer loops & finally a straight 5F course.

Old Sandown Park course map (that even quotes the elevation changes):http://www.jpmaps.co.uk/mapimages/originals/36609.jpg
Longchamp course map: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pWdmXx0Gw28/VCvZtVgC88I/AAAAAAAAdMQ/bRr231woL1o/s1600/course.jpg
Chantilly course map (biggest one I could find): http://www.lescourseshippiques.com/cache/images/hippodrome/1/_/hippodrome.jpg

[GeorgeJ]

LD73

Thanks, that is exactly the information for which I was hoping.

Chivers

Thanks. Although I don’t doubt that you are right, the reason for my enquiry is that when I am analysing a UK race which includes either a horse with solely French form or one with limited UK form sired by a French based horse, I like to be able to judge whether it will be suited by the course concerned. Even with all the data available in respect of UK based horses I am still struggling to achieve my target strike rate – so knowing next to nothing about overseas racing I wouldn’t have the temerity to attempt to analyse a French (or Irish) race.

[LD73]

Don’t envy you on that undertaking as not only do you have to try and evaluate the form but also take into account the fact that the vast majority of French races have no pace of any sort and then turn into a 2F burn up……good luck.

[TheBluesBrother]

French racecourse maps:
https://web.cloud.virginmedia.com/?shareObject=175d2e1e-64ae-34d8-56ef-03a90c564452

These are my standard times which have most of the major French racecourses:

Standard times:
https://web.cloud.virginmedia.com/?shareObject=194f4b16-0ff1-8753-2530-079536e8cd56

Mike.

[nwalton]

LD 73 is spot on regarding pace in french racing

[GeorgeJ]

TBB

Thanks for the downloads. You’ve clearly put in a huge amount of time creating those standard times and I’ll be interested to compare the major French courses with the better UK tracks.

[TheBluesBrother]

GeorgeJ wrote:

TBB
Thanks for the downloads. You’ve clearly put in a huge amount of time creating those standard times and I’ll be interested to compare the major French courses with the better UK tracks.

You can compare the racecourses using my lbs per length figures.

Example:
Longchamp 1m = 2.08
Newmarket (July) 1m = 2.08

The lower the lbs per length figure, the stiffer the test.

Ascot 1m (sraight) = 2.02

Mike.

[Author]

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