GRADE 1 novice chase winner Gitane Du Berlais returned to hurdling with a brilliant solo effort under Jacques Ricou, to run out a comprehensive winner of the Grade 3 Prix Juigne over two miles and three furlongs at Auteuil on Sunday

After her win, Mullins representative, agent Harold Kirk said: “We’ve so many for Cheltenham and this one loves soft ground. She also loves the hurdles here because she’s really a chaser. She jumps and stays, and loves to use her big stride.”

Despite her dismissal of some smart rivals, including the Gordon Elliot-trained Bayan, a return to Auteuil is not on the immediate agenda for the high-class mare until after the two major spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.

Kirk continued: “Her main aim will be the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, and then she will probably go to Punchestown before coming back here. Her future is over fences.”

Bayan chased the winner for much of the race before fading into sixth under joint top-weight.

Also on the card, a build up to May’s Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, Bel La Vie, the 2013 hero, made a satisfactory return to action after 18 months on the sidelines when finishing second over hurdles in the Prix Jean Doumen.

Though no match for the winner Rhialco, Bel La Vie showed plenty of enthusiasm, returning from a fractured pelvis. Rhialco delighted trainer Emmanuel Clayeux in a decisive victory.

“He will run in one of the next three prep races [for the Grand Steeple-Chase] though which I don’t know,” said Clayeux, who also trains last season’s Prix Georges Courtois winner Vezelay. “He is a very easy horse to get fit and I could have had him ready in a fortnight if necessary,” he added.

An impressive performance came from Jemy Baie, who dominated under top-weight in the major handicap, the Prix Karcimont.

CHANTILLY

The Aga Khan’s Dolniya (Christophe Soumillon) had a neck to spare over Arc runner-up Flintshire in the Prix Darshaan, a mile and a furlong all weather race at Chantilly on Tuesday.

The race was used by Cirrus Des Aigles last year and is specially framed as a trial for the major races on Dubai World Cup night on March 28th.

The first two could re-oppose in the Dubai Sheema Classic over an extra two and a half furlongs, for which Flintshire is second favourite behind Japanese star Harp Star.

Soumillon sat third aboard Dolniya - on her first start since finishing fifth in last season’s Arc.

Having travelled a couple of lengths behind Dolniya in fourth Flintshire almost closed the winner down under Maxime Guyon.

Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “That will bring him on and, all being well, he’ll go to Dubai.”

Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré said of Dolniya: “She has done well physically over the winter and I hope she can fulfil her potential at four.”