Francois Doumen
Francois Doumen is a French-born trainer who is one of the few French trainers to have achieved noteworthy success in National Hunt racing in Great Britain.
Doumen is the product of a French family with a rich horseracing heritage. Both his father and brother served as jockeys and then trainers at Frances Maisons-Laffitte. Doumen almost gave up his horseracing heritage after giving up his career as an amateur jockey and concentrating on his degree in veterinary science.
Doumen deviated further from the racecourse when he was appointed the manager of a clothing import and export company in South Africa. Whilst in South Africa he returned to horseracing, but this time as a trainer, and met his wife whilst training for her father.
In 1977 Francois Doumen moved back to France to work for his father as a trainer. Doumen’s first successes came on the soft turf of his homeland, where he racked up an impressive string of victories in major French hunt and flat races. In France he is most famous for training the legendary flat racer Jim And Tonic, who has won prestigious horseraces in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
In 1986 Doumen created a stir in the United Kingdom when he transported French champion Nupsala across the channel to compete in the King George VI Chase, where the horse became the first French horse to ever win the challenging race.
Kempton Park remained a happy hunting ground for Francois Doumen, 2008 Grand National trainer, and he went on to claim another four King George VI chase titles, making him the most successful trainer in the history of the event. Doumen also won titles at several other prestigious chases including the Racing Post Chase which he has won on two occasions.
Despite his success in Great Britain, which includes a Cheltenham Gold Cup, Doumen has been unable to claim the greatest prize in horseracing at the Grand National at Aintree. Despite training for the Royal Family and training six horses for the Grand National, this final prize eludes this Grand National trainer.
Francois Doumen’s entry for the 2008 Grand National is something of rank outsider. L’Ami does not have the most spectacular of records in National Hunt racing and failed to finish the 2007 Grand National. Few believe that L’Ami will defy his 50/1 odds, but in the hands of a Grand National trainer like Doumen is certainly capable of doing the unexpected.
Francois Doumen, 2008 Grand National trainer, could see first place at this year’s event. For live racehorse betting we recommend William Hill, one of the world's leading bookmakers.
