AUTEUIL’S mini version of the Cheltenham or Punchestown Festivals took place over the weekend, and produced plenty of talking points. From an Irish perspective, we had no winners, though the ever-popular Hewick came agonisingly close to a famous victory.

The highlight of the card on Saturday was the Grade 1 Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, the race in which Hewick was denied by a length and a half by the five-year-old Losange Bleu. This was a ninth win in 13 starts for the gelded son of Martaline (Linamix), and only once has he finished worse than second.