France hoping for no Doumen gloom in National

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — For a great horse racing nation France's record in the world's most famous steeplechase the Grand National is dreadful with just two wins in the 169 year history of the race.

However, just as 12-times British champion jockey Tony McCoy keeps coming back to try and win the gruelling test for the first time, so crack French trainer Francois Doumen does as well as he bids to add to the long forgotten victories by the Harry Lamplugh-trained pair Huntsman (1862) and Cortolvin (1867).

Doumen, who has won virtually every other major race in the English National Hunt calendar including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stayers Hurdle and King George VI Chase at Kempton, has gone closest to landing the prize with Innox, who finished seventh behind Hedgehunter, who is...