Germans invade Strasbourg!

German raiders on French meetings, particularly in the north and east of the country, have become a regular occurrence, but today´s meeting at Strasbourg is exceptional- there are no fewer than 27 German-trained entries in the 6 flat and two jumps races, quite possibly a record. In the opening 2100 metres handivap at 13.50 CET, Dieter Fechner saddles two runners Marek (Franck Foresi) and Lamborgino (Maxime Guyon), while Pennekar (Norbert Sauer/ Jerome Lermyte) and Princess Petra (Miroslav Rulec/ Thomas Huet) are also in contention. In the next race, for 3yo´s over 2100 metres at 14.20, Arrow Flght (Christian von der Recke/ Yann Lerner), Maybe (Hans Blume/ Jean-Pierre Carvalho), Northern Dragon (Manfred Weber/ Nicolas Dieu) and Ashantee (Rulec/ Huet) all line up, and in the 3800 metres hurdle race at 14.50 Our First Chestnut (von der Recke/ Jan Korpas), Pizarro (Miucael Trybuhl/ Josef Bartos) and El Kabara (Andreas Trybuhl/ Paul Johnson). The 3000 metres race at 15.20 sees Feather Heights (Johannes Blatt/ Eric Wehrel), Carion (Markus Klug/ Johan Victpoire), Spirit of Stars (Wrerner Hefter / Guyon) and Soterio (Werner Baltromei/ Dominique Boeuf) at the start, and an hour later Nettelbeck (Waldemar Himmel/ Ronan Thomas), Seenixe (Rulec/ Huet), Roccamena (Hefter/ Guyon), Arralinara (Blume/ Carvalho) and Born to Win (von der Recke/ Victoire) contest the 3yo seller over 2350 metres. The seller for older horses over the same trip at 16.50 sees Le Malande (Hefter/ Victoire) and Sovereign Poiint (Himmel/ Guyon) at the start, while Allez Hopp (Weber/ Nicolas Milliere) is the only German runner in the 4200 metres chase at 15.50. The final race at 17.20, the second division of the 2100 metres handicap, also has 4 German-trained runners - Beau Marchand (Connie Brandstätter/ Dieu), Courthouse Steps (Franck Foresi) and Cabari (Thierry Jarnet), both trained by Dieter Fechner, and Ravenclaw (Himmel/ Thomas). It would be a major surprise if the Germans return home without any winners; our top tips of the day are Werner Baltromei´s Soterio at 15.20 and Hans Blume´s Maybe at 14.20.