Next Wednesday, 13 September, Angers will host the 10^th stage of this year’s Grand National du Trot. One of the most popular racecourses in the west of France, where the public is both passionate and informed, next week’s meeting is guaranteed to draw the crowds. A fascinating series so far, it is hard to envisage the coming event not living up to expectations.

After the 9th (of 15) stages, Gaspar D’Angis found himself topping the table, having amassed four victories and two places in seven starts. Imperious at Saint-Malo a month back, he left arch-nemesis, and 4-times GNT winner this season, Horace Du Goutier, to fight hard for his 2^nd place. This time around though, trainer Jean-Michel Baudouin is unlikely to be over-confident, seeing as his 7 year-old is forced to give a further 25m to his closest rival, making his own task significantly tougher.

In points terms, there is little separating the two stars, and even with 5 races to go after next week’s running, it is likely that the GNT title, to be decided on 3 December at Vincennes, will be fought out by the current leaders.

On the drivers’ front, Eric Raffin, faithful partner of Gaspar D’Angis, has a strong hold on the lead, ahead of Hughes Monthulé, with Franck Nivard trailing somewhat in 3^rd.

The battle is a little more open in the trainers’ classification, Jean-Michel Baudouin on 91 points, leading Sébastien Guarato by 10. Not only does it show how close the race is, but also the importance of the GNT to two of the leading trainers in the country.