1 November 2019
Grand Prix d'Automne 2018 : scoopdyga.com
Ten start in the €350,000 Grand Prix d’Automne (Gr1), at Auteuil on Saturday, the first of 4 Gr1s featured on the Parisian spectacular racecourse this weekend, in an event nicknamed "Jumps 48H". In this Autumn version of the French Champion Hurdle, or Stayers' Hurdle rather as it's contested over 3 miles, title holder Galop Marin (Black Sam Bellamy) meets again with a dual winner of the classic in 2016 and 2017, Alex de Larredya (Crillon), who has just made a comeback. Owned by the Papot family, Galop Marin should start as the favourite, even though he was beaten ine the Carmarthen Hurdle (Gr3) latley by the 5yo mare Paul’s Saga (Martaline), who of course will answer the call but is 4lbs worse off this time. Three females will try to emulate La Segnora, the last winning mare, back in 2011. Curly Basc (Kapgarde), 3rd in the Compiègne Hurdle (Gr3), has been entered along with Miss Salsa Blue (Blue Bresil), who hasn't confirmed yet her second place in this race last year.
Aftet two years off, Blue Dragon (Califet) bids to be knocking on the door of greatness again, and he finished a pleasant 2nd in the Compiègne Hurdle won by Galop Marin, on September 23rd. His rider-turned-trainer David Cottin has left him plenty of time to take a deep breath and go for the big one.
Third in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (Gr1) in the Spring, Berjou (Holy Roman Emperor) hasn't quite confrimed that latley, while 5yo Highway to Hell (No Risk At All) also needs to be more convincing this term as he failed twice after a nice winning series at Compiegne in the first part of the year.
Bergerac (Spirit One) beat Curly Basc in a Listed at Auteuil for his come back after 6 months off. Only one runner sails from britain, Agrapart (Martaline), trained by Nick Williams, who saddled the 2013 winner Rêve de Sivola… Yet Agrapart ran four times at Auteuil so far and hasn't won there yet. He also hasn't run since August.