Craon is set to stage a nine-race programme on Sunday, September 27, with the meeting beginning at 11:00 and running through to 15:32. The card offers a varied mix of Flat races, hurdles and steeplechases, with contests covering distances from 1,300 metres to 4,200 metres. The afternoon will feature several demanding staying tests along with shorter Flat events, while the Listed Prix Haras de Bouquetot (Prix du Point du Jour) will provide the main highlight of the meeting.
The opening contest, the Prix Go Interim (Prix de l’Oudon), is scheduled for 11:00 and will see 11 four-year-olds line up over 3,400 metres in a €26,000 handicap hurdle. The distance will place an early emphasis on stamina and jumping consistency, with the runners required to maintain their rhythm through a demanding trip.
At 11:30, the programme moves to the Flat for the Prix V and B, also known as the Handicap de Craon – Challenge APGO. The Class 4 handicap is open to horses aged four and older and will be contested over 3,000 metres. Ten runners are set to compete for €13,400. The extended distance should provide a strong test of endurance as the field negotiates the long course.
The third race at 12:00 is the Prix Ici Mayenne (Prix Claude Rouget), a Class 2 steeplechase for horses aged five and older. Eight runners are scheduled to contest the 4,200-metre race, which carries a prize of €28,000. It is the longest event of the afternoon and will demand sustained stamina and accurate jumping from start to finish.
Attention then turns to the younger generation in the fourth race, the Prix Juge TP (Prix Volney), which gets underway at 12:31. The 1,650-metre maiden is exclusively for two-year-olds and has attracted 12 runners. With €21,000 available, the contest will provide an opportunity for the young horses to showcase their development over the Craon course.
The jumps return at 13:03 for the Prix Asselco (Prix Docteur Guy Jallot). The four-year-old handicap steeplechase covers 4,100 metres and features 11 runners competing for €26,000. The lengthy trip will require the horses to conserve their energy while maintaining concentration over the obstacles, particularly during the later stages of the race.
The feature event of the Craon meeting follows at 13:40 with the Prix Haras de Bouquetot (Prix du Point du Jour). The Listed race is open to horses aged three and older and will be run over 1,650 metres. Seven runners are scheduled to take part in the €47,600 contest, making it the highest-value race on the card. The combination of Listed status, a compact field and the 1,650-metre distance makes this one of the key races of the afternoon.
The seventh race, the Prix du Journal du Haut Anjou (Prix Olivier d’Andigné), is scheduled for 14:15. The nine-runner handicap steeplechase is open to horses aged five and older and covers 3,700 metres. With €26,000 on offer, the race will once again test stamina and jumping technique, with the runners required to maintain their rhythm over the extended distance.
Flat racing returns for the final two contests of the programme. At 14:50, the Prix Crédit Mutuel (Prix du Val d’Athée) will see 13 horses aged four and older compete over 1,300 metres in a Class 4 handicap worth €14,400. The shorter distance should bring a quicker pace to the meeting, with the runners required to maintain momentum throughout the contest.
The programme concludes at 15:32 with the Prix Equidia (Prix de ParisLongchamp). The final race is another 1,300-metre Class 4 handicap for horses aged four and older, with 14 runners scheduled to take part for a prize of €16,300. It is the largest field of the day and will bring the nine-race programme to a close with another test over the shorter Flat distance.
Overall, the Craon meeting offers a broad range of racing on September 27, combining Flat contests with demanding hurdle and steeplechase events. The card features races over distances of 1,300 metres to 4,200 metres, providing different tests of pace, stamina and jumping ability. The Prix Haras de Bouquetot (Prix du Point du Jour) at 13:40 stands out as the Listed feature and carries the highest prize of the afternoon, while the final two Flat races will complete the day’s programme.
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