Our French expert with the ones not to miss on Monday

Five horses who have us dreaming of Monday’s return of racing in France

After seven weeks without racing in the three major European nations, racing fans have been provided with a much needed boost with France staging some classy action on Monday. Below, our French expert Scott Burton has identified five horses who could make the brightest of comebacks.

Victor Ludorum (Andre Fabre)

Andre Fabre chose the Prix de Fontainebleau last year to unveil subsequent Classic winner Persian King and it was always the logical place to return with Victor Ludorum, whose short two-year-old campaign comprised three wins in the space of 36 days.

If all goes well on Monday then Victor Ludorum is in line to attempt the same Classic double of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (June 1) and the Prix du Jockey Club (July 5) achieved by his late sire Shamardal in 2005.

Khayzaraan (Freddy Head)

Sottsass and Victor Ludorum may be among big names declared for Monday’s Prix de la Grotte but Khayrazaan is a classy sort who deserves plenty of respect.

Tropbeau (Andre Fabre)

Tropbeau showed herself to be extremely smart when picking up a pair of Deauville Group contests last summer before just being run out of it by Millisle and Raffle Prize in the Cheveley Park.

From an extremely speedy family that experience of the Rowley Mile might yet prove invaluable, assuming she proves in the Prix de la Grotte that she stays a mile.

Sottsass (Jean-Claude Rouget)

Undoubtedly the star of the day is Sottsass, an imperious winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in June 2019 who proved himself best of the Classic generation in Europe when chasing home Waldgeist and Enable in the Arc last October.

Lou Buck’s (Francois Nicolle)

As if the racing on offer at Longchamp were not enough of a reward for the long wait, racing fans will be able to continue the celebrations with a fine jumps card at Compiegne later in the afternoon.

The Listed Prix William Head is usually run at Auteuil and has thrown up candidates for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in the past.

Lou Buck’s has suffered an injury-interrupted career but is unbeaten over fences and looked as good as ever when making a winning return to action over hurdles at Compiegne shortly before the shutdown. A potential future star whatever happens this spring.

Five jockeys to follow when racing resumes in France on Monday