Ruby on Auteuil: Total Recall should run a big race but French Made is our best

2.50pm Prix Questarabad 

French Made won in Fairyhouse, ran at Punchestown and went to France finishing third in each of those. I think she’s actually improving with every run. I think she has a massive chance again. She ran a blinder in France the last day and with that experience with French Hurdles under her belt now I think it will really stand to her. I think she’s probably our best chance today.

3.25pm Prix Des Drags

Isleofhopendreams has been running really well, he came second in the Leinster National. I think he’s a slight preference for going right handed and that could be a bit of a drawback for him in Auteuil. He’s in good form at home, they had a bit of rain in France during the week which he would really like but I’d just be a bit concerned about the direction for him. I think he’s a better horse going the other way around.

Total Recall will have improved a lot from that experience in Auteuil, the race that Davy (Russell) won on Carriacou. French chasing is so different. I think it took a fair bit out of him early in the race yet he still looked like he had a chance halfway down the back straight before he tired.

I think that run will really stand to him and I think he’s a big runner for us on Sunday. He’s the better of the two here.

Baie Des IIes won this race last year, and she obviously missed the cut for the Grand Steeple Chase Des Paris. She got balloted out, which means she’s probably fresher than the others. She was running really well in Down Royal on her last start in Ireland when she tipped up so she could run a big race.

4.32pm Prix la Barka

Bapaume bolted up in this race last year after staying on well to finish second in the French Champion Hurdle. This year he was fourth or around there in the French Champion Hurdle, probably didn’t get the clearest of runs up the straight or the back straight. Himself and Mr Adjudicator both ran into trouble there. It’s probably a little bit weaker of a race than the Champion Hurdle, he’s in good form and I can see why Paul has chosen to ride him. You could argue he’s probably in better form this year than last but he’s had a harder campaign this year, he was probably fresher this time last year and that might be worth bearing in mind.

Mr Adjudicator got badly interfered with in the same incident as Bapaume running down the back straight in Auteuil the last day. He’s come home from Auteuil and seems to be in good form since and goes back again. He could definitely be an improver and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran into the money.

We haven’t seen Quick Grabim since he was well beaten behind Klassical Dream but he’s improved a lot since that run, whether he’s improved enough is another thing. I know he’s a former bumper horse but I think he’s quite quick and I’d be worried about the trip for him.

Danny Mullins is on Pravalaguna. She’s had plenty of opportunities in the past, she was travelling well when she fell at Punchestown in her last start over fences but she’s been to Auteuil a couple of times before and I don’t think she set the world on fire.

She had a bad fall with me quite a while ago but I’d just be a bit worried about her.

Stormy Ireland is working great at home. Paddy Brennan rides her here and we’re very happy with her. I think she’ll run a big race.

There’s very little between Bapaume and Mr Adjudicator. Paul’s had a tough choice here. On the run in in France the last day, If you watch the race back and how much interference was suffered by both horses there’s very little between them. And, with Stormy Ireland and her form behind Benie Des Dieux, there’ a big runner there as well. There’s no 1-2-3 here. Paul’s had a very tough choice.