French National: Imperil wins for Brexit

Sunday, April 2, 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - Ridden by Jack Quinlan, who was making his chasing debut at Auteuil, Imperil (No Risk At All) was among the horses to watch in the €255,000 Président de la République French National Chase (Gr3) 2023. The 7-year-old gelding, carrying 66.5kg, was gradually brought forward to dominate fairly clearly in the run-in a quintet formed by top-weight Ecoute en Tête (Ballingarry), who finished fourth, the finisher Echo de Champdoux (Saddler Maker), third a nose behind Fanfaron de Spécial (Gentlewave), the winner of the 2021 edition of the race and always in contention here. The fifth-placed Motu Fareone (Getaway) briefly looked like he might be in the running for the places after making good headway on the rail.

Imperil had just won by three lengths at Fontainebleau, six months after winning at Clairefontaine. It was his third attempt at Auteuil, the second over fences, nearly two years after finishing third on the inner course of the Butte Mortemart steeplechase. The horse had also raced at Auteuil over hurdles at the age of 3, once without success.

In the meantime, he had been claimed for €17,106 €  by Tobiah Jones on behalf of Littmoden at Nîmes, where he'd unseated his rider at the last with the race at this mercy. Moved from Christian Scandella's stable to his current trainer in England; he won twice there and returned to France with Littmoden when the handler moved to Moulins at the beginning of the 2021 season. Since then, the horse has won four races in five outings and amassed €162,690, thanks to the €114,750 promised to the winner of the "President".

Bred by Élevage des Loges, Imperil had been sold as a yearling for €30,000 to Élise Drouet at the Osarus sale in Maisons-Laffitte. His dam, Irevoltar Has (Sagamix), a winner over jumps at Durtal, is a sister to Irouficar Has (Dream Well), winner of the Orcada 4yo Chase (Gr3).

Last November in Deauville, the 2-year-old Beauson (Beaumec de Houelle) was unsold at €2,000 by Haras des Loges. He is now trained by Augustin Boisbrunet. Following him are a colt born in 2021 by No Risk At All named Runway Number Nine, and the yearling Empyrean (Nirvana du Berlais).