Auteuil Saturday

3.25 Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (Grade 1) 3m 1f 110yd

In a week in which one rags-to-riches graduate of the Shark Hanlon stable, Rachael Blackmore, took her leave from the sport, it would be fitting if another, Hewick, could bag the biggest hurdling prize in France, the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil.

Sadly, the reigning champion, Losange Bleu, may once more stop that from happening in tomorrow’s Auteuil feature.

Hewick finished fourth in this race in 2023. Then, last year, he got to within a length and a half of Losange Bleu when taking second, with four other Irish raiders behind.

This time around, he is the only Irish representative in a field of eight. And, unlike 12 months previously, when he got to within three and a half lengths of landing the Punchestown Gold Cup just 17 days before making the trip to Paris, he has had a six-week break since finishing a highly creditable eighth in the Grand National at Aintree.

But Losange Bleu, trained by a wonderful horseman in the shape of Dominique Bressou, remains a fearsome obstacle to overcome.

At six years of age, he is four years Hewick’s junior, and, already in possession of the superb record of having won three Auteuil Grade 1s, looked better than ever when giving weight and an eight-length beating to El Clavel in his final prep race.

One glimmer of hope for Hewick’s legion of fans is that Losange Bleu’s jumping can sometimes be fallible. But he does seem to have ironed out that kink in recent months and can deny Hanlon’s pride and joy a French triumph to set alongside those he has already secured in London (three times), Galway and New Jersey.

The only other overseas challengers is the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral, who has won just one of his last 16 starts, albeit that success came in the 2024 Pertemps Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

SELECTION: LOSANGE BLEU Next Best: Hewick

Auteuil Sunday

3.05 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Grade 1) (5yo+) 3m 6f

This was meant to be a mouth-watering clash between the last three Grand Steep heroes, but, sadly, the 2023 winner, Rosario Baron, has been forced out with a pulled muscle.

Nevertheless (and despite lacking overseas-trained contenders), France’s premier jump race still sees the reigning champion, Gran Diose, head a strong field of 14 runners.

Gran Diose hails from the small but spectacularly successful yard of Louisa Carberry and her husband, the Irish-born Champion Hurdle and dual Grand Steep-winning jockey, Philip.

They are bidding for a remarkable fourth victory in this race, having also been responsible for Docteur De Ballon, the 2020 and 2021 winner.

Gran Diose only had a neck to spare over the reopposing Grandeur Nature last year, but has since then, not only landed the Grade 1 Prix La Haye Jousselin in November, but also returned from five months away to beat four of tomorrow’s rivals in last month’s Grade 2 Prix Ingre.

Further spice is added to an intriguing contest by the presence of Sel Gem in the line-up.

Trained by the multiple champion, Guillaume Macaire, this son of Masked Marvel looked set to dominate the chasing ranks for years to come when lifting this prize as a five-year-old in 2022.

He has run just three times since, and was returning from a second lengthy lay-off when taking a two miles and six furlongs event here three weeks ago.

SELECTION: GRAN DIOSE

Next Best: In Love

On Sunday’s undercard, the Walk In The Park three-year-old colt Wild Bill Hickok, who is trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, continues his bid to justify a position among Coolmore’s National Hunt stallion roster, when contesting the Grade 3 Prix Aguado, a two-mile, one furlong and 110 yards hurdle contest.