Héros XII Chase: A "Grand Steeple" anyway!

Usually an Autumn classic, the Héros XII Chase (Gr3), run Sunday at Compiègne in a , plays very well its role as a replacement for the "Grand Steeple" with nine runners are confirmed among the very best chasers in the country.

The winner of the 2019 Grand Steeple Carriacou (Califet) faces almost all the good chasers in the country, with the notable exception of Ebonite, who has just won the Murat (Gr2) prize at Auteuil, and Bipolaire, who ran only twice elsewhere than at Auteuil in obstacle, in hurdles for his debut in Nantes and recently, on the hurdles of Compiègne, precisely, where he finished third.

The race is therefore very open and this change of scenery makes it even more exciting, especially since we are still awaiting progress from the 5years Feu Follet (Kapgarde), a good second in the Prix Murat (Fr2) ahead of Carriacou, precisely, and undefeated on the Compiègne steeplechase!

• 1. CARRIACOU (g8, FRA by Califet and Medanik, by Medaaly) Weight: 11st, Rating: 183lbs

Last year winner of the Zeturf Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1), then third in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1), he finished fifth for his return in a hurdle race at Auteuil and was a brave 3rd in the Murat Chase (Gr2) with 11st 3lbs to carry. He is a very reliable jumper and has already won on other racecourses than Auteuil.

• 2. SRELIGHONN (g7, FRA by Martaline and Eliga, by Turgeon) Weight: 10st 12lbs, Rating: 174lbs

Winner of the Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1) in 2017 and dethroned in the same autumn, he nevertheless won the Troytown Chase (Gr3) in his first season against his elders and repeated in the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) before the following winter. Switched over hurdles last year, he ran only three times and only once in the spring, was pulled up for his return this year over hurdles at Auteuil but was much better lately when second in the William Head Chase (L) at Compiègne.

• 3. EDGEOY (g6, FRA by Saddler Maker and Ireland, by Kadalko) Weight: 10st 10lbs, Theoretical value: 163lbs

He gradually climbed the ladder to the best level of the steeplechase in France and won his first group in this same race last October by beating Ebonite. Twelfth in the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) after that, he came back with a 7th place in the Troytown Chase (Gr3) in February. 

• 4. ROI MAGE (g8, FRA by Poliglote and Royale Majesty, by Nikos) Weight: 10st 10lbs, Theoretical value: 169lbs

Good third for his return chasing at Compiègne in the William Head Chase (L) behind Srelighonn, he finished third in the Zeturf Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) last year and only ran once in between, when sixth in the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) won by Roxinela. He only ran once since then, in February in the Troytown Chase (Gr3).

• 5. CRYSTAL BEACH (g8, FRA by Network and Hatilade, by Royal Charter) Weight: 10st 10lbs, Theoretical value: 170lbs

At 8, he has run only twelve times over four seasons and has just made a winning comeback over hurdles on this racecourse after a year out. He hadn't been seen in action after an unfortunate fall in the Zeturf Grand Steeple-Chase in Paris (Gr1) last May. Winner of the Murat Chase (Gr2) last year, he is one of the best-rated French chasers.

• 6. ENJEU D'ARTHEL (g6, FRA by Saddler Maker and Olga d'Arthel, by Brier Creek) Weight: 10st 8lbs, Theoretical value: 148lbs

He has won three of his four hurdle races to date, but none at Auteuil, where he has been better at chasing. Last Autumn, for example, he won the Fondeur Chase (L), restricted for 5-year-olds. Second in the Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre Chase (Gr3) behind Poly Grandchamp for his seasonal return, he led the Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race (Gr2) and ran well.

• 7. ROXINELA (f7, FRA by Muhtathir and Grivette, by Antarctica) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Theoretical value: 159lbs

Placed in almost all of her top races last year, she ended her season in style by winning the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) and made a promising comeback in the Murat Chase (Gr2).

• 8. SAINT XAVIER (g8, FRA by Saint des Saints and Princesse Lucie, by Poliglote) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Theoretical value: -

He will start over for his 5th trainer to date, Patrice Quinton, after a brief experience in Great Britain, where he won over hurdles. Out for a whole year earlier, he left France having won the Montgomery Handicap Chase (Gr3) under only 9st 11lbs  and took fourth place in the La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1).

• 9. FEU FOLLET (g5, FRA by Kapgarde and Folle de Toi, by Sageburg) Weight: 10st 1lbs, Theoretical value: 161lbs

The best of his generation over hurdles last spring, he won the Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle race (Gr1) and switched to chasing after that. He'd won twice chasing at 3 but couldn't win again and was eventually pulled up in the Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1), and the following week in the Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle race (Gr1). Yet he won very easily for his return on the Compiègne Chase in March and followed up with an encouraging performance in the Murat Chase (Gr2), finishing 2nd to Ebonite, in front of Carriacou.