Join

The Bloodstock Files: French Jumps Special

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Wed 21 Oct 2026

Make sure to visit Racing TV's YouTube page to watch the latest episode of The Bloodstock Files. The latest episode in the series examines the French secret behind a soaring jumps market.

From Kauto Star to Galopin Des Champs, British and Irish buyers have long looked to France for jumps stars. With prices now hitting a million euros, Josh Stacey visits Maisons-Laffitte to find out what the French are doing differently.

Records have been broken in the sales ring in recent seasons, and private deals for young jumpers are now running into seven figures. To understand why, Stacey spoke to producer Nathan Byrne, bloodstock agents Pierre Boulard and Nicky Bohlander, and new auction house Aktem.

Teaching them to think

On the gallops at Maisons-Laffitte, ten minutes from Paris, Byrne explained that he wants his young horses to learn to race for themselves.

"I just want the horses to think by themselves," he said. "In a race at 55 kilometres an hour, they need to think for themselves. I don't want the jockeys to interfere too much. I want it to become a reflex."

Spotting real ability is harder. "Ability is hard to find," he admitted. "Some are backward as two-year-olds and then all of a sudden they come on as three-year-olds."

The best, though, stand out from the start. "From the minute they walked into the yard, they were a different kind of horse. Everything was so natural and straightforward. What I've found is the sign of a really good one is how quickly they recover from a hard day."

Why buyers come to France

Byrne believes British and Irish buyers are paying for a finished product.

"They know they can jump, they can run fast and they've got a bit of form," he said. "They've learned the trade a lot younger, because they start as two-year-olds. And because we run horses at three, we find out a lot earlier whether a stallion or broodmare is any good."

When buying, he looks to the dam first. "The obvious stallions are obvious, but I think the dam is 80 per cent of it."

Two-year-olds over hurdles

The sight of two-year-olds schooling over hurdles can surprise British and Irish visitors, but Byrne insists it is the foundation of everything that follows.

"The main point of our training is to get them to jump the perfect way, and they find it fun," he said. "It's like a child who starts skiing at four. When he's 15, he's a pro. If I start at 30, it takes a lot longer."

He rejects the idea that it is too much, too young. "They're jumping a tiny hurdle at a really slow pace. If we were going fast over big obstacles, I'd agree. But their job is to be a racehorse, and they need to enjoy every second of it."

A market that keeps rising

Bloodstock agent Nicky Bohlander puts the rising prices down to results at Cheltenham. "The results speak for themselves. The buyers want the best, and many of the best are in France."

Asked whether the prices are sustainable, he said: "I hope we stop here."

He also warned that some horses are now produced to look their best on their first run, ready for sale. "Some horses can be very ready for their first race, so you have to judge how good it is and how it will improve, or whether it was 150 per cent for that first run. That's the job."

A new player in the ring

Aktem, the auction house launched at the start of the year, has already recorded three world records, including the highest price paid for a two-year-old National Hunt horse: a full-sister to Lossiemouth, sold at its first physical sale at Maisons-Laffitte.

"There was some space left in the market in France, and the idea was to create new opportunities for buyers and vendors," said communications adviser Pauline Masqueray, who revealed turnover has already passed €11 million. "Competition is good. The more competition there is, the more opportunities there are."

"It's got to stop soon"

Pierre Boulard, who with Harold Kirk has sourced stars such as Quevega and Galopin Des Champs for Willie Mullins, has watched the market change completely.

"When we started, the prices were so cheap compared to now," he said. "There are more people trying to buy and fewer horses on the market, so it's getting more difficult and the prices go up."

For Boulard, Auteuil remains the ultimate test. "It's a real test of stamina, a very selective track and by far the best jumping track in France. If they perform at Auteuil, you're 90 per cent sure he's a good horse."

But he believes prices cannot keep climbing. "It's getting a bit crazy. A maiden over jumps is now nearly more expensive than a maiden on the Flat. Five years ago that was impossible to imagine. It's got to stop soon."

The Gaelic Warrior story

Boulard's proudest moment came when Gaelic Warrior won the Gold Cup, a horse few would have tipped for the top as a youngster.

"At the time it was absolutely impossible to think he would be a Gold Cup winner," he said. "He was immature. We bought him because we thought he could be a very good chaser in the future.

"Then someone told me he'd be a Gold Cup horse one day, and I thought he was crazy. It's fantastic to be there at the beginning of the story and still be there at the end."

Watch the full episode of The Bloodstock Files on the Racing TV YouTube channel.

Get Jumps Season Ready with Our Expert Tips and Exclusive Free Bet Offers!

Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.

Five horses to watch at Cheltenham this week

Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips at Kempton: "he looks very well in"

Saturday ante-post tips: brace of 20-1 chances among five bets

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White 2026-27 Jumps season stable tour

Racing TV's presenters' 2026-27 Jumps horses to follow

Todays top offer

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav with BOYLE Sports

T&Cs Apply

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&C's apply. 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.

Claim Now

Featured offers

Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware

Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £20 debit card or instant banking transfer deposit. Place a £20+ bet on Horse Racing at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg for 4x £10 Free Bets (can be used on Racing Bet Builder). Claim within 30 days. Valid for Horse Racing only. Geographical restrictions and Further T&C’s apply

Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. 18+ GambleAware.

Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ GambleAware

Please bet responsibly

Races

Tips

Watch

Results