All Times BST

20:44 Friday after plenty of rain the going at Longchamp is now Very Soft, although I am not sure if that equates to the British heavy or whether it is somewher between the two. With heavy rain forecast overnight it will only be worse.

Light rain is forecast during the day tomorrow.

Racing gets underway at 13:00 UK time.

11:54 Finally I have arrived at Longchamp after a journey from hell - in truth I am just relieved to be here as my flight came within five minutes of being cancelled.

The weather here is overcast but no more rain is forecast, which is a relief.

The official going remains very soft after 8mm of rain in the last 24 hours

12:40 Right, not sure what sort of info we will be getting in the media centre today.

I will definitely bring full coverage of the four big races and bring, as best I can, coverage of the other four as best – my French is not that good.

But - and it is a big but - any updates are going to depend on the internet working properly and at the moment it isn't.

13:23 Well I am merrily writing away here knowing nobody can read what I am writing because the internet connection here has gone down.

The opening contest saw an impressive winner as Creyente came home well clear of her rivals, having hit the front around two furlongs out.

Nothing else was able to go with her in their sights with Julie’s Love taking second place but never a threat to the winner.

There was a close battle for third spot with Cat Melody just getting the better of Cresta Run.
The front four all came home in typical French style, off the pace.

13:47 Our second contest was an Arab race for fillies, with eleven going to post.

The race panned out in an almost identical manner to the opener with a late challenger taking the spoils.

Rasheeqah had been settled mid-division before being asked to make he effort around 300 metres from home.

Once in front she never looked to be in any danger.

Rawdat Al Khalidiah was with the pace and managed to hold on for second spot from her running on stablemate Rayat Al Khalidiah (pity the poor commentators in this one – although we have an even worse race tomorrow afternoon)

14:20 No report on the third race I am afraid as I was attempting to sort my internet out, hopefully now working.

14:28 We have managed to get connectivity just in time for the first of today’s group races, the Qatar Prix Chaudenay a 1m 7f contest .

15:00 Well we have now had four races this afternoon and none of them have done anything to dispel the stereotypical view of French racing.

Once again the front runners come home tailed off as all the places were filled by horses running on in the closing stages.

Having said that the winner, Celtic Celeb, was well placed behind the leaders before hitting the front in the home straight.

Ivory Land and Le Larron were also running on well in the closing stages to take minor honours.
Permit and Caucus, who shared the pace quickly dropped out as they approached home finishing last and third last respectively.

The favourite, Brigantin, was settled in rear during the early exchanges and although making progress at the end was only able to finish a never better fourth.

15:03 Time for the girls next with the NYSE Euronext Prix De Royallieu over 1½ miles.

15:09 All eight do go to post for the next.

Superstition and Sarah Lynx were both pulling slightly, Peinture Rare is very relaxed

15:29 I really do hate these racecourses with two finishing posts, especially when you thing you have found a prime position only to find you are standing by the wrong finishing post.

I was almost worried I had tempted fate in what I wrote in the last race as they approached the first winning post it looked as though the front runners were going to be involved in the finish.

As it happened by the time they reached the second (correct) winning post Maria Royal had swept to the front to take the spoils.

High Heeled, who was in second for most of the contest passed the line in that position, despite having led briefly in the closing stages.

La Boum was a running on third.

One problem with the media centre here is a shortage of screens showing replays – precisely none – and it would have been interesting to see the  head-on as the runners looked to come close together and the stewards have called an enquiry.

15:37 Our third Group contest of the afternoon is the Qatar Prix Dollar, an extended 1m 1f contest with ten lining up.

16:02 La Boum was disqualified from third spot in the previous race - Sarah Lynx promoted.

16:06 Well the last two races have done their utmost to disprove my French theory and this time Cirrus Des Aigles obliged for favourite backers, having been with the pace throughout – I even managed to position myself by the correct finishing post this time as well.

It was a close finish as Budai was bearing down on the leader to take second spot with the other two front runners Distant Memories and Poet coming home third and fourth.

Cima De Triomphe was another prominent runner and he did endorse the theory by tiring inside the final two furlongs.

16:08 Our fourth and final Group contest of the day, the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein over a mile with eight facing the starter.

16:44 It takes a lot to get the better of the French stalls handlers but Across The Rhine managed to do it, steadfastly refusing to enter the stalls despite every attempt from cajoling through to attempting to physically lift the horse into the stalls.

Anyway his antics reduced the field to only seven runners and it was Corconte who set the pace.
After the last couple of races this contest did revert to form as Corconte eventually came home last.

It looked as though it was going to be another result for favourite backers as Emerald Commander in the Godolphin blue hit the front about two out.

However Royal Beach was being held back for an even later run under Olivier Peslier, coming like a train to hit the front where it matters.

Lochinver, who slightly missed the break, was another running on in the closing stages to take second spot, leaving Emerald Commander back in third.  

16:53 Well that's it from a fraught day one here at Longchamp - let's hope the internet is more stable tomorrow.

Join us tomorrow for the big day.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

13:00
16 Amarilou

13:35
2 Al Sarwa

Results (All times BST)

MT - Medium Course
LT - Large Course

13:00 Claiming Stakes 1,600m MT

8 Creyente
13 Julie's Love
14 Cat Melody
Distances 8L & 2 1/2L
15 Ran Nr 16
Time 1' 46.50"

13:35 Arab Race 2,000m NT

6 Rasheeqah
3 Rawdat Al Khalidiah
4 Rayat Al Khalidiah
11 Run Nr 2

14:08 Handicap 1,600m MT

14:40 Prix Chaudenay 3,000m MT

15:15 Prix De Royallieu 2,500m MT

15:50 Prix Dollar 1,950m MT

16:25 Prix Daniel Wildenstein 1,600m LT

16:55 Handicap 1,600m MT

20 Run