The next leg of the Grand National du Trot moves from the Mayenne to the Gironde in the southwest of the country. Langon-Libourne plays host to the coveted Gr.3 on Wednesday 21 June, which is guaranteed to draw some familiar names.

Impressive winner of the Laval edition a fortnight ago, Horace Du Goutier currently sits third in the points table, thanks also to his Saint-Brieuc victory, and has closed in on Gaspar D’Angis and Howdy Partner.

In the lead with a circuit left to race, he stepped up the pace with ease, outclassed his rivals, and in the process set a new race-record time. At Saint-Brieuc, he was superb, but at Laval last week, Horace Du Goutier put on a display the like of which could see him positioned among the elite of French trotters come the end of the year.

After having disposed of Gaspar D’Angis in Brittany, and Howdy Partner at Laval, Horace Du Goutier could well be aimed at the Langon leg. All three are entered, and while it is still early days, the prospect of seeing this trio in action would whet the lips of any racegoer. Either way, the race to the top of the table is well and truly on.

Horace’s regular partner, Hugues Monthulé, similarly finds himself third in the drivers’ ranking, behind trotting stars, Franck Nivard and Eric Raffin. Quite the contrast to his present 43rd position in the general classifications.

Among others entered for next week’s showpiece is Harlem De Bucy, who recently missed out by little in a Vincennes Group 2, a marked improvement on his rather unfortunate 4th place in the GNT leg at Le Croisé-Laroche in late May. Second to Gaspar D’Angis in the Lyon-Parilly stage, Christophe Ecalard’s horse is a serious contender for the Langon spoils.