7 December 2022
December 3, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – A faller at the schooling hurdle, the odds-on favourite of this €155,000 Léon Olry-Roederer Hurdle Race (Gr2), Hermès Baie (Crillon) was withdrawn and only five runners went to the post. As a result, the pace was pretty slow with Henri le Farceur (Hunter’s Light) leading the field towards the last turn, when Folsom Prison (No Risk At All) and Yeiayel (Protektor) came by him, followed by Anouma Freedom (Hannouma), while Haut Les Cœurs (Saddler Maker) was already struggling after travelling mostly on his own.
Event though he was already ridden by then, after a few awkward jumps, Henri Le Farceur still prevailed in the final stages to win by nine lengths, Anouma Freedom staying on in second place, a length and a half in front of Yeiayel. Folsom Prison finished 4th at nine lengths.
Bred by Haras de Saint-Voir, his owner, 5-years-old Henri le Farceur was racing here for the 21st time, winning for the 3rd time only, a first at Gr2 level.. He won the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps Handicap Hurdle (Gr3) in 2021. Fifth that year in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle, Gr1), he'd also finished second in the Merano 4yo Hurdle race (Gr1).
Trained by Hugo Merienne, he had taken the 5th place in the Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle race (Gr1) before this winning seasonal bow.
Henri le Farceur is the first foal out of Alerte Rouge (High Chaparral), a winner over the flat at Vichy, and a sister to the Gr1-placed, Gr3-winner and multiple placed hurdler Bosseur (Coastal Path). The dam also gave a Saint des Saints 3-year-old unraced filly, a Doctor Dino 2-years-old colt and a Cokoriko yearling colt.