GRAND PRIX D’AUTOMNE (GRADE 1)

PAUL Nicholls and Nick Williams both had runners at the two-day jump meeting at Auteuil last weekend.

Neither won a race but between them, they amassed €125,750 with the lion’s share (€83,200) going to Nicholls after a couple of thirds in Grade 1 races, while Williams clocked up €42,550 with a fourth and a seventh in a top hurdle.

Nicholls’ first earnings came when Ptit Zig and Nick Scholfield stayed on to finish third in the Grand Prix d’Automne last Saturday. The seven-length winner was the well backed Alex De Larredya (Crillon). The 63-1 chance Solway was runner up and had two lengths to spare over Ptit Zig, with Lizzie Kelly and Aubusson back in fourth place.

The odds-on favourite Blue Dragon was the shock of the race as he was pulled-up by James Reveley before jumping the final two hurdles having, at times, been streets ahead of the field. He was a clumsy jumper on this occasion and his latest race had been on the flat.

Francois Nicolle first took out a training licence in 1987 and this was his first Grade 1 success. He carries out his profession at Saint Augustin near Royan and his near neighbours are Gullaume Macaire and Arnaud Chaille-Chaille so jumpers appear to thrive in this part of South West France as much as flat horses do a little further South at Pau (Jean-Claude Rouget, Francois Rohaut etc).

Nicolle reported: “That’s a relief. I’ve been waiting a long time for my first Grade 1. Better late than never. Gaetan Masure (it was also his first success at this level) rode a perfect race. The horse deserved this victory which is a credit to my whole stable.” A tilt at the Long Walk hurdle at Ascot next month has not been ruled out for Alex de Larredya.

Masure added: “He has an exceptional acceleration and was full of beans today.” On the same card, Macaire saddled the odds-on favourite Edward d’Argent (Martaline) to win the Grade 2 Prix Congress chase.

The three-year-old was conceding weight to his six rivals and owner Simon Munir was having a unique day at the races as he also had his colours carried by Alex de Larredya.