There was no joy for the British and Irish raiders in the big Grade 1 jumps race at Auteuil on Saturday, the three miles, one and a half furlongs Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Hurdle).

The favourite Losange Bleu made all the running and had the race sewn up coming in to the straight for the final time. Illusion Machine gave vain chase but the winner only had to jump the last and went away to beat a staying on Theleme by seven lengths.

The Martaline gelding had won the race in 2024 but finished second last season for jockey Johnny Charron and trainer Dominique Bressou.

Both Joseph O’Brien’s dual Grade 1 winner this season, Home By The Lee and the-Lucinda Russell/Scudamore-trained Apple Away were behind from an early stage in the 11 runner field but while the mare kept on to finish sixth, Home By The Lee was struggling at half way and dropped to last to be pulled up before the second circuit.

The Paul Nicholls raider Henri The Second was also pulled up.