THE 2026 Rova Caviar Prix d’Amerique will brighten up a dull Paris winter afternoon tomorrow.

Eighteen of Europe’s best trotters will be vying for the €1 million purse (€450,000 to the winner) and the event always has razzamatazz as befits its American feel.

Previously, the trophy has been delivered by parachutists, an Olympic gold medallist and even a squad of Hells Angels when Harley Davidson Motorcycles were a sponsor.

The opening ceremony is worth seeing and it’s a pity that UK coverage will show the race only, at best.

Le TROT live will broadcast live from Vincennes, while Sky Sports Racing will preview the race with Katherine Ford after 11am and intend to show a delayed replay between their British racing at around 3.20pm.

A sizeable contingent of Irish harness racing followers will be in attendance. Bet 365 and other companies will offer prices on the big race (3.10pm Dublin time) and here follows some analysis plus the selections from some of the shrewdest heads around. All the replays of the qualifying races can be watched on the Prix d’Amerique website.

Unfortunately, the closing of the declarations fell after our print deadline so the 18 runners are presumed on Wednesday 21st, not definite, but there will be few, if any changes.

Betting Forecast: Go On Boy 3 Epic Kronos 5 Josh Power 11/2 Iroise De La Noe 17/2 Frank Gio 12 Francesco Zet 12 Inmarosa 12 Hokkaido Jiel 18 25/1 Bar

THE name GO ON BOY is widely touted in France as the favourite and was unsurprisingly mentioned by most of our experts, both local and international. He has been mixing it in the top races throughout Europe and his second to Idao Du Tillard in the 2025 renewal is a strong form line. Go On Boy won Sweden’s top race the Elitloppet last May.

Regrettably, this year’s race may go down as the year of the dropouts, as the event has been robbed of some of its big names. Idao Du Tillard (colic), Jushua Tree (hairline fracture) and the driver Jean Michel Bazire (hand injury) are amongst the ‘non partants’. However, if history has taught us one thing, it’s that races without the ante-post ‘jolly’ can still produce a blanket finish.

IROISE DE LA NOE represents the Levesque family who owned Roquepine, three-time winner in the 1960s and other winners.

A win for her would satisfy the purists, as she wears no superfluous equipment. She is a lovely gaited chesnut. The mare sluiced up in the Prix de Belgique and will have the assistance of 2025 Sulky d’Or winner Eric Raffin in the bike, mightily relieved that a 14-day ban does not kick in until February 1st.

Iroise’s win on January 11th proves that they don’t need to be clipped out to run well. She was unlucky to gallop when in contention last year and will probably make the frame.

EPIC KRONOS is put in short by virtue of the fact that he destroyed them in the Prix Tenor de Baune.

I wouldn’t be so bold as to put myself in the ‘shrewd heads’ section, but I was very taken with FRANK GIO’s runs in the Criterium Continental and the Prix de Belgique.

He is trained by Sebastian Guarato, who knows what it takes to win here. I suspect that Matthieu Abrivard will drive him closer to the pace and he has some finishing kick. He will decide whether I go down the baguette route or that of the plat du jour.

JOSH POWER beat two useful yardsticks in Inmarosa and Hokkaido Jiel in the Prix de Bourgoune and deserves to be third favourite.

INMAROSA has solid form, but there have only been two mare winners in 26 years.

BULLET THE BLUE SKY would not be an obvious pick, but his presence and the mention of Jushua Tree (sic) is proof that Bono’s reach is worldwide.

Vincenzo Gallo, Belgian radio broadcaster: Go On Boy, has been laid out for the race. Frank Gio has an incredible finish.

Emmanulle Morvillers, Head of International Marketing, Le TROT, France: Go On Boy, Josh Power

Ger Kane, Irish trainer: A very open year, there will be big prices on the PMU. Inmarosa and Go On Boy.

John Roche, Irish owner: Frank Gio is the right age at five and Iroise De La Noe has Raffin in the sulky.

Pierre Levesque, France (family own Iroise De La Noe): Our own mare, plus Epic Kronos and Josh Power.

Richard Westerlink, Dutch-born trainer of Ettonant and Timmoko: Iroise De La Noe and Inmarosa

Darren Owen, UK-based thoroughbred and harness commentator: Jushua Tree is a big loss. Josh Power was staying on well last year. Frank Gio for a place.

Anders Malmrot, former manager Solvalla track, Sweden: Epic Kronos and Josh Power

Eoin Murphy, Irish driver: I think Go On Boy will win comfortably, with Josh Power second.