El Tango at Auteuil

French racing today comes from Auteuil (N.H.), Marseille (7 flat races, one over hurdles) and Vincennes (trotting this evening), but the Auteuil card is the most interesting, with some large fields racing on heavy ground. There are 18 runners in the opening tiercé handicap, the most valuable race on the card, and 18 also in the final Prix Arthur Viel-Picard, a hurdles race for 5yo´s and older horses over 3600 metres at 16.50 CET. The most interesting runner here is the dual German St. Leger winner El Tango, who is making his hurdles debut. Previoiusly with Peter Schergen, he is now trained by Francois Doumen and will be ridden by champion jockey Christophe Pieux. Although it is quite likely that there are some smart unknown quantities in opposition, it will be disappointing if El Tango does not run prominently today, especially as the going is in his favour.