THE unbeaten five-year-old Il Est Français ridden by Johnny Burke started as the favourite for the Grade 2 €135,000 Hypothèse Hurdle at Auteuil on Sunday but could only finish fifth of seven.

Trainer Noel George speaking on Sky Racing, thought the Richard Kelvin Hughes and the Haras de Saint-Voir-owned gelding can still do better next time with the Grade 1 target, the €390,000 Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, eight weeks away, still the plan.

Victory on Sunday went to Thélème, winner of the last Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle.

The race was fast enough made by two early leaders Goa Lil also trained at Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s Chantilly yard, and Kapteen.

Goa Lil lead them into the final turn ahead of Spirit of the Moon, Hermès Baie and Il Est Français as Thélème had gradually caught up with the leaders.

Between the last two hurdles, it became apparent that Il Est Français was in trouble, as Thélème took the lead after the final hurdle to go on to an easy victory, over six lengths ahead of Hermès Baie.

Three lengths behind came Spirit Of The Moon. Goa Lil bravely held on to fourth place ahead of Il Est Français.

In the Grade 1 €390,000 Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil last year, Hermès Baie won it with Thélème fourth.

The next prep is the Grade 2 Léon Rambaud Hurdle on April 23rd, won last year when Hermès Baie returned to victory for the Papot family.

Thélème is approaching €800,000 in earnings and was was bred by SCEA Bissons and races for JDG Bloodstock, representing the heirs of James Gordon.

Kalashnikov

There was some British joy at the meeting when the Amy Murphy-trained Kalashnikov won the conditions hurdle, the Prix Hubert de Navailles Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs. The popular 10-year-old, in blinkers for the second time, held on by a short neck under Jack Quinlan, to record his first win since he won the Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree in 2019, having missed a long spell of over 600 days through injury. He earned £23,610 in the process.