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The Stats Guide: Grand Steeplechase de Paris.
The G1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (6000m) is the feature event on Sunday at Auteuil and is part of a quality meeting. This time around the highlight does not disappoint with another fascinating line up. Open to five-year-olds and above, it is understood to be the richest and most prestigious jump race in France.
Originally it was deemed the equivalent to the Grand National with the event contested over 6400m and a handicap for the first renewal in 1874. That longer trip was reduced by the second running to today's journey of 6000m (three and three quarter miles). The title of the event was changed to the current name in 1876.
There have been multiple changes to the event including the conditions, abandonments and more. It ceased to be a handicap in 1890 when a fixed weight-for-age system was introduced. Four-year-old horses were allocated 62.5kg, five-year-olds 70kg and older horses 72.5kg alongside a 6kg penalty for previous winners of the race.
Throughout the 1920's the contest saw significant variations to the distance with a record of 6900m (approximately four and a quarter miles) in 1924. The G1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris was cancelled throughout World War I but in World War II it was called off only once, in 1940. One year later the current age restrictions came in with the minimum age increased to five-year-olds. However, in the last four decades the race has only seen minimal alterations.
The three most successful horses in this Group One have been Hyeres III, Katko and Mid Dancer, each with three victories. International success has been mixed throughout the history of the event. Twelve foreign-trained horses have triumphed, the latest being Mandarin in 1962, trained in England by Fulke Walwyn. The most recent foreign horse to finish runner up was in 1975 with the Irish-trained Captain Christy.
This year Guillaume Macaire will be hoping to make history in the event by recording a seventh success after wins with Arenice in 1996, Bel La Vie in 2013, Storm Of Saintly twelve month later, So French in both 2016 and 2017 alongside On The Go, which was the most recent in 2018. Of course this year, Guillaume Macaire has teamed with Hector de Lageneste as a combined training partnership.
David Cottin will be hoping to end his current record of 'outs' in the race to gain a first victory in the Group One. He is yet to achieve success in the race as either a trainer or jockey. The trainer holds multiple entries including star hurdler Ajas, last season's top four-year-old Le Berry and Général en Chef.
Nine-year-old, Docteur De Ballon will be bidding to gain a slice of unique history having won this race last year and now only receiving seven months between the two renewals due to Covid-19 delaying last year's running from May to October. The 2019 winner Carriacou will be looking to re-gain his title.
With 23 fences to be negotiated, the challenge is fierce. We look at the numbers behind the horses including course record, season numbers, career stats plus much more.
