THERE was an excellent jump meeting at Auteuil on Easter Monday, which featured the Grade 3 Prix du President de la Republique (French Grand National) plus a Grade 2 and listed event. The big handicap went to the 21/1 chance Via Dolorosa who is trained at La Palmyre in the west of France by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.

Maisons-Laffitte-based Guy Cherel saddled the first three past the post in the Grade 2 Prix Leon Rambaud, which went to the even-money favourite Blue Dragon from his stablemates Solway and Bosseur.