DAVID Pipe made an excellent choice by putting James Reveley on board Un Temps Pour Tout who was running at Auteuil for the first time since taking third place behind the Paul Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig in the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier.

Reveley knows jump racing in France like the back of his hand as he has been attached to the Guillaume Macaire stable before returning to England. In 2014, he won 40 races worth €983,800 and had a strike rate of 31%.

There was no hesitation after the start and Un Temps Pour Tout was soon bowling along in front and none of the other 14 runners were ever seen with a chance.

It was all over for first place running into the straight and the six-year-old cantered past the post 10 lengths clear of Thousand Stars, Zarkandar, Dos Santos, Ballynagour and Hurricane Fly.

Katie Walsh rode a sensible and kind race on Thousand Stars who appeared to enjoy passing other rivals during the closing stages after being waited with early on. Zarkandar was always handy and the Prix La Barka winner Ballynagour challenged rounding the final turn before his stamina began to wane.

Hurricane Fly was mid-division virtually throughout but never a force to be reckoned with and Val De Ferbet was pulled up after a mistake at the eighth hurdle.

“He’s been running very well in England. We wanted to make it a test of stamina so we rode him from in front. He just keeps galloping. He was also beautifully ridden by James Reveley. France Galop has looked after us very well and the prize money is excellent. I would also like to thank Richard Chotard who looks after us over here,” commented Pipe.

LEVEL

He was winning a first Grade 1 race in France but Reveley had already reached the level on board Reve De Sivola for Nick Williams in the Grand Prix d’Automne in November 2013.

Reveley said: “Both my grade wins have been for English trainers. Un Temps Pour Tout jumped superbly and quickened at the end. I think he runs better at Auteuil than other tracks.”

Willie Mullins reported: “I was delighted with the run of Thousand Stars as I was not expecting such a great performance. He ran poorly last time out in Ireland but I still tried my luck as he adores Auteuil. What a wonderful horse.”

Of Hurricane Fly who was jumping French hurdles for the first time in seven years: “He took a little time to adapt and Ruby Walsh never thought the horse was going well. Now it’s off to the paddocks.” Although very French, Un Temps Pour Tout is in fact technically Irish-bred so he did not attract the breeders’ premium of €24,975. He is officially bred by an Ulsterman, Felix Talbot, as his dam foaled the son of Robin Des Champs in Ireland.

For a financial reason, he came back to Nicolas de Lageneste’s Haras de Saint-Voir and was later sold to bloodstock agent Pierre Bouchard for €15,000 at the Arqana Summer sale in 2011 as a two-year-old before being put into training with Francois Nicholl by Sue Bramall in October 2012.

Just over a year later, the horse fetched a record £450,000 at the DBS Hennessy Sales at Newbury.

It was an astute purchase by Pipe and the late foal (June 15th) is a rapidly improving six-year-old so the best is surely still to come.