Fresh starts at Auteuil
Photo of Polirico winning the Congress Chase - scoopdyga.com
The Prix Duc d'Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3) is the only group race of Saturday's meeting at Auteuil but several top jumpers have chosen this day to make their return to Paris in lower events.
The race was won over the last two years by Whetstone and Edward d'Argent. The 2008 edition however went to Santa Bamba, who became the dam of champion hurdler De Bon Coeur. The silks of Jacques Détré represented by these two mares are at the start once again with probable favourite Polirico (Cokoriko), winner in the fall of the Prix Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2) here, beating Goliath du Berlais (Saint des Saints) and Royal Et Tic (Policy Maker), who are both entered on Saturday.
A new rival revealed at Pau's winter meeting try to hold back the trio as Thrilling (Network), winner of the Prix du Haras of Saint-Vincent-Prix Antoine de Palaminy 4yo Chase (L) at Pau, enters the fray. Before this winter, this representative of Benoît Gabeur and Palmyr Racing racing over hurdles.
Among the runners of the other seven races of the day, one can outpoint Bon Augure (My Risk) in the Prix Jean-Claude Evain Chase. Recently pulled up at Angers for his return after more than fifteen monthsout, Bon Augure won the Prix des Drags Chase (Gr2) in 2017 for Scotland's Lynne McLennan and trainer Adrien Lacombe.
In the Prix Hubert d'Aillières Hurdle Race (L), we also find Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix), winner of a second Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) in the Autumn, and his stablemate at François Nicolle's yard, Srelighonn (Martaline), winner of the Prix Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) in December on this course.
The start of the first race is scheduled at 2pm. Yielding ground is expected.