Amadou 4yo Hurdle Race: Let's start over

Since the creation of the Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle race (Gr1) in 1986, eleven of its winners previously won the Amadou 4yo Hurdle race (Gr2), including the titleholder Feu Follet (2019). This year, the race is again programmed to do the job, four weeks away from the main championship. Some runners were regally bred, being siblings of Gr1 winners, a testimony to the fine bloodstock that French breeders have patiently crafted throughout the years ...

• 1. Want of A Nail (f4, FRA by Kapgarde and Westonne, by Mansonnien) Rating: 157

Sister to champion chasers So French and Whetstone, it took her six races to finally win in the Magne - Haras d'Etreham 3yo Hurdle race (Gr3), after having finished four times second and once third. She then confirmed in the Bournosienne - Haras d'Etreham 3yo Fillies Hurdle race (Gr2), which made her the best 3-year-old hurdling filly of Auteuil. She finished her first season with a chasing success and will make her come back here, and also her return to the hurdles.

• 2. Groom Boy (g4, FRA by Tiger Groom and Quoette de Touzaine, by Ragmar) Rating: 130

He won for the first time after three races, over the hurdles of Moulins, in October, and started chasing with a victory a month and a half later in Pau. Second in the "Grand Steeple des 4ans" at the end of the meeting, the Antoine de Palaminy - STH Hipavia 4yo CHase (L), he then finished fifth in the Duc d'Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3) and returns to hurdles here.

• 3. For Fun (h4, FRA by Motivator and Funny Féerie, by Sillery) Rating: 157

Brother to two Group 1 flat winners, extremely consistent, he only missed the podium once in ten hurdle races. For his come back this year, he took the third place in the d'Indy 4yo Hurdle race (Gr3), nine lengths behind the second-placed Moises Has, whom he finds again here.

• 4. L'Ouragan (g4, FRA by Hurricane Cat and Meldown, by Until Sundown) Rating: 140

He won two hurdles races at Auteuil last year before facing the elite in the Georges de Talhouët-Roy 3yo Hurdle race (Gr2) and finished seventh. He hasn't run since then.

• 5. Moises Has (h4, FRA by Martaline and Monika, by Last Emperor) Value / Rating: 68kg / 150

Fourth for his debut, at Auteuil in September, he won very easily twice then and was beaten without real excuse for his return, by Grand Messe in the d'Indy 4yo Hurdle (Gr3).

• 6. Gant de Velours (g4, FRA by Poliglote and Patte de Velour, by Mansonnien) Value / Rating: -

Supplemented here when he could run in a restricted hurdle race on the same card, he has won three of his four races to date, including two AQPS flat Group 1 races, and started victoriously over the jumps, leaving his rivals at a distance, in the Prix de l'Yonne 4yo AQPS HUrdle race, in March.

• 7. Kool Has (g4, FRA by Martaline and Kotkibed, by Astarabad) Rating: 152

Twice a hurdle winner at Chateaubriant and then Auteuil last summer, he finished the season with a third place in the Georges de Talhouët-Roy 3yo Hurdle race (Gr2), and finished second in the Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle Race (Gr1). He's back from his Winter spell.

• 8. Galant Chaba (g4, FRA by High Rock and Kalypsonn, by Panoramic) Value / Rating: 64kg / 141

After winning flat AQPS races, he won his hurdle debut at Auteuil in the best 3-year AQPS race but did not confirm afterwards.