Gaillard du Mesnil many like on here, he started on the flat/bumper as many ex French do but can anyone enlighten me to an Rsa winner who has started on the flat and not via PTP/Bumpers/French hurdles. It does note NH flat for him so has there been any French that have come from that path and not hurdling over there?
It got me thinking a little so had a flick past through the last 11 renewals, three French breeds have gone close 2019(Delta Work), 2017(Whisper), 2014(Smad Palace). Delta & Smad did appear to start out in French bumpers/flat(smad even had a couple of hurdle spins over there) so it's not they they can't go close but i was surprised how many runners in total are traditional IRE breeds.
Last 11 renewals total runners = 113
Irish/Gb runners= 84 74%
Top 3 finishes from runners 29/84 (34%)
FR runners= 29 26%
Top 3 finishes from runners 4/29 (13%)
Top 3 total (33) 33/113
2021- 6 runners of which 1 were FR Ur
2020- 10 runners of which 2 were FR Allaho 3rd, one other fell
2019- 12 runners Delta work only runner 3rd
2018- 10 runners 5 runners were FR only one finished (5th)
2017- 12 runners 4 runners were FR Whisper was a nose 2nd
2016- 8 runners 3 runners were 5th was best position
2015- 8 runners 1 runner finished 4th
2014-15 runners 5 runners were FR which Smad palace was a nose 2nd
2013- 11 runners 3 runners were FR 4th was best position
2012- 9 runners 2 runners were FR 4th was best position
2011-12 runners 2 runners were FR neither finished
Ramblings to many but surprised me a little even thou someone on here has probably highlighted this or similar before.