Senonnes Racecourse stages an entertaining eight-race programme on Friday, July 31, bringing together a balanced schedule of hurdle and flat racing. The meeting offers opportunities for experienced campaigners, promising youngsters and emerging performers across a variety of distances and conditions. With races ranging from 1,350 metres to 3,600 metres, the card highlights the versatility of horses competing at one of France’s respected provincial venues.
Senonnes racecards 31 July 2026
The afternoon opens with hurdle contests before transitioning into a series of flat races, ensuring spectators witness different aspects of French racing throughout the day. The programme includes Class 2 and Class 3 events, maiden contests and handicaps, creating an engaging mix of competition.
The feature event of the meeting is the Prix du GPMT des Artisans de St-Aignan-sur-Roë – Course de Haies de Senonnes, the richest race on the card with a purse of €28,000. Scheduled for 12:18, the Class 2 hurdle over 3,600 metres is reserved for three-year-old hurdlers and has attracted a competitive field of nine runners. Young jumpers stepping into this level often use races like this to establish themselves for bigger assignments later in the season, making it one of the most significant contests of the afternoon.
The race is expected to test both stamina and jumping ability as the runners negotiate a demanding course over hurdles. Consistent rhythm, accurate jumping and strong finishing power will all play a decisive role. With talented young horses seeking valuable black-type experience and progression through the ranks, the feature promises to be one of the day’s most closely followed contests and a key highlight of the Senonnes programme.
Proceedings begin at 11:46 with the Prix Claude Rouget, a Class 3 hurdle over 3,600 metres for horses aged five years and older. Seven experienced runners are entered for the contest, which is likely to reward seasoned performers capable of maintaining a steady rhythm over the obstacles. Veteran hurdlers often thrive in these competitive middle-distance events where experience can prove just as important as speed.
The third race at 12:50 is the Prix Super U Pouancé (Prix de Pouancé), another hurdle contest over 3,600 metres. Open to four-year-olds, the Class 3 event has drawn eight runners. Horses in this age group continue to develop physically and mentally, making this race an interesting test of maturity, jumping consistency and staying ability.
Flat racing begins at 13:25 with the Prix de la Commune de Senonnes, a 2,300-metre event for three-year-olds carrying prize money of €16,000. The field of eight runners brings together developing middle-distance performers aiming to build experience. The distance provides an ideal examination of stamina while still requiring tactical positioning throughout the race.
At 14:00, the Prix du Groupe Pigeon (Prix des Andegaves) takes the field over 3,000 metres. Reserved for four and five-year-olds, the contest offers €10,000 and has attracted ten runners. Endurance will be the defining factor in this staying event, where patience and efficient energy management often separate the leading finishers from the remainder of the field.
The sixth race, scheduled for 14:35, is the Prix des Vans Théault, a Class 3 handicap over 3,000 metres worth €19,200. Six runners will compete in this staying handicap, where weight allocations are designed to create an evenly matched contest. Tactical riding and well-timed finishing efforts are expected to play an important role over the extended trip.
Race seven at 15:10 features the Prix Commune d’Ombrée d’Anjou (Prix de Pouancé), a 3,000-metre maiden for three-year-olds carrying prize money of €10,100. Eight lightly raced horses will attempt to record their first career victory. Maiden contests frequently showcase improving young talent, and this event could reveal horses capable of progressing to stronger company later in the season.
The meeting concludes at 15:45 with the Prix Philippe Monnier, a competitive Class 3 handicap over 1,350 metres. Thirteen runners are set to line up in the largest field of the afternoon for the €19,200 sprint. The shorter distance places greater emphasis on early pace, positioning and acceleration, providing an exciting finale to the day’s racing. With numerous runners in contention, the closing event is expected to deliver an energetic finish to the programme.
Overall, Senonnes presents a well-rounded card that highlights both the jumping and flat racing disciplines. The mixture of experienced campaigners, promising young hurdlers and developing flat performers offers an engaging afternoon of competition across a variety of distances. The feature Class 2 hurdle stands out as the centrepiece of the meeting, while the supporting contests ensure every race contributes to a diverse and competitive schedule. Racing enthusiasts can look forward to a day showcasing the depth of French racing talent and the continued development of horses competing across multiple categories.
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