Empty stands but fireworks guaranteed as Longchamp gears up for racing's return

There will be little fanfare and no crowd but the sheer relief that Longhcamp can relaunch the sport in one of Europe's three major countries will have echoes far beyond the Bois de Boulogne.

The quiet and sombre atmosphere is a necessary trade off for the permission to race and, in the wider circumstances of a country in which 26,000 plus people have lost their lives to Covid-19, undue celebration would be crassly out of place.

But for those who live and breathe racing this is a seminal moment: one achieved thanks to skillful negotiation on the part of French racing's authorities and which will be marked by what might be one of the best Monday cards in recent memory.

Sottsass deservedly tops the bill and many will hope he can be one of the marquee names in Europe as Flat racing belatedly hits its stride.

Standing in the Longchamp paddock after his Derby winner had finished an honourable third in last October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, trainer Jean-Claude Rouget offered the promise that "we'll have to come back and win it at four".

The road back to what will be the centenary Arc begins with the Prix d'Harcourt (1.05) and, while the assembled cast of opposition are far from ordinary, Rouget must be quietly satisfied at the opportunity presented to launch Sottsass on his four-year-old career with a net 5lb in hand over his closest rival.

Such is the depth of the Longchamp card that it is more likely than not that we will see one or more new stars for the season emerge from the two Classic trials.

Victor Ludorum was a hugely talked-of horse long before his September debut success here and, having added the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere before season's end, is as short as 6-4 to land what will undoubtedly be the first "Guineas" of the year, back here in three weeks time.

Ecrivain and Helter Skelter reoppose from the Lagardere and will be ready to expose any first day rust in the Prix de Fontainebleau (11.55), though Victor Ludorum has thus far carried about him the aura of a horse that could be right out of the top drawer.

Sit-and-pounce Tropbeau and the freewheeling Khayzaraan will provide a contrast in the filles' trial, the Prix de la Grotte (12.25), while for those in search of reassurance that even in this uncertain world there is continuity, look no further than the impossible-to-follow camerawork of the Longchamp sprint track in the opening Prix de Saint-Georges (9.55).

Away from the capital there is classy jumping action at Compiegne, where a potential candidate for next month's Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris could emerge in the Prix William Head, and a mixed evening card at Toulouse for those that stick with France Galop's live race-by-race video.

The curtain comes down at 9.42, meaning that racing-starved diehards could watch 30 races spanning just shy of 12 hours.

Nor will French racing be blowing all its aces in one go: Saint-Cloud, Chantilly and a second classy Longchamp card will keep things swinging along nicely through the week, while jumps fans can look forward to a double-header at Auteuil next Saturday and Sunday.

Merci Monsieur President!

Saturday rain softens Longchamp for reopening

It has been a largely warm and sunny run up to the big return in Paris and in the middle of last week the penetrometer was only one click south of genuine good ground.

A powerful electric storm changed all that late Saturday, dumping 70mm of rain on Longchamp and changing the going to very soft (4.1). There is a chance of between 3mm and 11mm more to come and, although the track is fresh, there will definitely be plenty of cut.

It is worth remembering for those used to the British GoingStick that penetrometer readings go in the opposite direction: the bigger the number, the softer the ground.

Read more:

How to watch, bet and find the winners: your guide to enjoying the French action

One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch in France on Monday

Racecourse guides: essential insight into the French tracks in action

The hotshot trainers and ace jockeys you need to know in France

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