3 minute read
News In Brief of French Racing.
Auteuil hosts one of the major jumping fixtures of the year on Sunday. The card features two Group One races, Group Two contests and other Black Type events. An excellent afternoon of jumping awaits.
G1 Prix Cambaceres - Grande Course de Haies des 3 ans Hurdle (3600m)
The first of the Group One races, as usual, does not disappoint. This event has a rich history with even a future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner finding success in this contest prior to even bigger victories. A highlight race for the renewal of which seven have been declared.
Le Listrac - Le Listrac comes with four starts and two victories. This Francois Nicolle representative was a head winner at this track over 3500m in the middle of September. The son of Balko faces a significant jump in class which is the question mark but is open to improvement. Place maybe the best position.
Baladin de Mesc - Baladin De Mesc is the most experienced in the field with seven racecourse appearances. He showed promise at Compiegne in June when second in the Listed Prix Stanley (3400m) and then fourth at this venue in the G3 Prix Aguado (3500m) at the start of July. Progressed when gaining a second career win in the Listed Prix Des Platanes (3600m) at this course and distance by a neck from rival Theleme. Consistency is his advantage and can be involved in the finish.
Héros d'Ainay - Héros d'Ainay is the least experienced. Comes into this feature race with only two previous efforts. The successful debut looked classy when twelve lengths clear of the field in the Listed Prix Go Ahead (3000m) here in May. A step up to Group Two company was slightly disappointing when beaten 15 lengths into fifth in the G2 Prix Georges De Talhouet-Roy(3600m) at this track and trip three weeks ago. The son of Sholokhov will need to up his game.
Thélème - Thélème runs for the Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and Thomas Coutant combination who are in fantastic form. He produced a promising debut on the flat on the all-weather surface in January at Pau before a neck second on initial jumping attempt here in the Listed Prix Des Platanes (3600m) at this course and distance at the start of September. This son of Sidestep relished the step up to Group Two level when scoring by an eye catching four lengths in the G2 Prix Georges De Talhouet-Roy (3600m) at this track three weeks ago. Could be hard to beat if repeating.
Magneto - Magneto is another contender from the Nicolle yard. Looked useful at Compiegne on second start in May when winning by ten lengths. Achieved the hat trick, with follow up wins coming in the Listed Prix Stanley (3400m) at Compiegne and at this venue by two lengths in the G3 Prix Aguado (3500m). The son of Boris De Deauville finished fourteen lengths behind rival Theleme three weeks ago. Place chance.
Hermès Baie - Hermès Baie heads up the bottom two in the line-up which are both trained by Francois Nicolle. The neck winner of the G3 Prix Robert Lejeune (3600m) over course and distance in September ran with ability when seven lengths third in the G2 Prix Georges De Talhouet-Roy (3600m). This effort will be his fifth racecourse start and is open to progress. Not out of this.
Raffles Face - Raffles Face arrives with almost the same level of ability as stablemate Hermes Baie delivering fifth racecourse appearance. The son of Authorized was four lengths runner up behind rival Theleme in the G2 Prix Georges De Talhouet-Roy (3600m) here three weeks ago. On the shortlist.
G1 Prix Maurice Gillois – Grand Steeple Chase des 4 ans Steeplechase (4400m)
Another exciting and intriguing Group One event. This time over the larger obstacles for the four-year-old division.
King Edward - King Edward is one for the Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé team who are in great form. This son of Martaline showed promise as a three-year-old with multiple placings at this course including at Black type level. He started the year in style when a neck winner of the G3 Prix Duc D'Anjou (3500m) here. Fell in the G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (4500m) in June however at Compiegne and then finished twenty lengths behind Le Berry here in the G3 Prix Orcada (4400m) a month ago. Will need to build on that effort.
Magrudy - Magrudy is the only one from the Francois Nicolle stable for this historic event. The son of Doctor Dino faces a large jump in grade after looking impressive at a range of tracks in steeplechase contests this summer including Compiegne and Bordeaux. He showed ability in Black type company at this track two outings ago when nine lengths second in the G3 Prix La Perichole (4400m) in July. Interesting candidate.
Resplendor - Resplendor scored by an eye catching fifteen lengths at Lyon Parilly over 4100m at the start of September two runs back. This son of Orpen though does maintain a good record with six victories from thirteen starts. The grade jump could be too much but is trained by David Cottin so a possible surprise is not out of the question.
Galleo Conti - Galleo Conti has never been out of the top two in eight career starts. Arrives a three-time winner this campaign which includes a ten-length victory at Clairefontaine over 3900m in early August and here over 3600m in September. Finished ten lengths runner up behind rival Le Berry in the G2 Prix Orcada (4400m) three weeks ago. Rates a chance of going one place better.
Le Berry - Le Berry looks the class horse producing six wins in seven outings. Success for this son of Gemix have included the Listed Prix Finot (Poulains) 2019 (2600m) here a year ago, the Listed Prix James Hennessy (3800m) at Compiegne in June by an eye catching ten lengths. Was only one length short in the G3 Prix La Perichole (4400m) at this track while the grey gelding three weeks ago beat multiple rivals to take G3 glory with an impressive display in the G3 Prix Orcada (4400m). Could be hard to beat.
Gardons Le Sourire - Gardons Le Sourire is one of very few contenders who hold winning form at this actual level. That came in the G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (4500m) at Compiegne in June before disappointing in the G3 Prix De Maisons-Laffitte (3600m) at this venue the end of September. If the Fame and Glory son is at his best then could be involved.
Général en Chef - Général en Chef was eighteen lengths third behind rival Le Berry here three weeks ago. This son of Martaline eventually achieved a hat trick after receiveing a break in between each outing subsequent to a seventeen-length success at Lignieres in March. This victory was followed by an eleven-length success at Pau in May and a six-length victory here in September. Class might be an issue. Place maybe best.
