THE Grade 1 Prix Serge Landon-Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle on Saturday at Auteuil was won for the second year in succession by the hot favourite Losange Bleu (Martaline). The three-mile feature gave the Papot family, who bred the six-year-old gelding, a record sixth win in the contest, as they owned the Irish-bred Galop Marin who was successful from 2018 to 2021. That son of Black Sam Bellamy was bred by Mark Molloy and Mark Fleming.

Losange Bleu was never in danger, grinding his rivals into submission, and at the entrance to the straight the race was well and truly over. Winning trainer Dominique Bressou, who also handled Galop Marin, is now two behind record-holder William Head who won this race with Filidor (1931 in a dead-heat), Evohé II (1934 to 1937), Daring (1944), Vatelys (1946), Blue Butterfly (1947) and Maisons-Laffitte (1951).