12th stage of the GNT in Nantes: The games are open

“A five-star cast” let’s headline a year ago about the Nantes stage won by Ideal Pommel in front Gaspar d’Angis at the end of a superb duel. Without insulting the sixteen competitors who make up the starting grid, the 2024 field does not look the same and no one has attempted the daring bet of going fifty meters (like Cleangame victorious in 2019 in the time of 1’11”2!). Very open, this 12^e stage of the GNT nevertheless retains several points of interest. Starting by finding your winner. Entrusted to Éric Raffin for the occasion (the duo has one victory and two places in seven outings), Horatius of Ela should be the favorite of this event.“He did it very well at the end of the summer by coming at the others. Thus, it is also efficient, specifies his trainer, Marc Sassier who will also line up Harley Gem with logical ambitions in this stage. He is well placed in the lead. There is opposition but he has his place at the finish. His form is still good.” Disqualified last at Vincennes when he was competitive for a very good ranking, the son of Brilliant seems to have the means to set the record straight. But the opposition is dense. Faced with the two residents of Marc Sassier, there are many who can claim to vie for the first places. Gino Vivaentrusted to Matthieu Abrivard and very well engaged at the first level, is a candidate for the podium. Just like the hero of the Green Trophy, Harry de Sassy back on the sand (read elsewhere). If he can take the lead, Jules Leroulley’s partner has the means to go very far.

Igrec de Celland, the yellow jersey should reassure

Richest horse of the lot, Ideal Ligneries is undoubtedly one of the classy competitors of the lot (along with I Like Football). As proof, just a year ago, he finished in third place in the always very competitive Prix Marcel Laurent (Gr. II) behind Idao de Tillard et Inmarosa. Not seen in competition for 8 months, the former resident of Fabrice Souloy is now trained by Jean-Philippe Monclin. “He joined the team at the beginning of September. He worked regularly and I took him to work on racetracks. This return to school will allow me to judge him better, but he runs very fresh and I experienced better composed stages in Nantes, analyzes the Angevin coach. Unshod on all four feet, he is not incapable of grabbing fifth place.” Still on the second level, the yellow jersey, Igrec de Cellandwill be there. Untouchable in the spring when he scored three victories (Cordemais, Laval and Bordeaux), the son of Django Riff seems much less sharp in recent weeks. But his last two outings include excuses according to his trainer Christophe Jariel: “At Le Mans, he suffered a knee injury and was treated. Recently in Cherbourg, the blood tests were bad. We carried out treatment and we had to skip Saint-Galmier. It always gets worse as the cold approaches. That said, at work he is very good. But he must reassure me.” In the general ranking, Igrec de Celland (61 points) is only 8 points ahead of Ibiki de Houelle which he should meet again during the final in Vincennes, on 1^is December. With two stages to go, the games are (more than ever) open.