It might be the down season for the British and Irish top jumpers but that doesn’t stop Willie Mullins picking up Grade 1s.

The Closutton maestro was represented in Auteuil by Aintree Grade 1 runner-up Selma De Vary and the Zarak mare gave Mullins his fourth win in the top French four-year-old hurdle, the Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breil - Gde Course de Haies de Printemps .

It followed wins in 2013 with Diakali, 2016 Footpad and 2023 with Gala Marceau.

The contest featured some of the top home runners, among others, the favourite Léopard Du Berlais, Delmegan, and Edamura.

Partnered by Paul Townend, Selma De Vary proved strongest in the home straight, edging out the French mare Delmegan by a short head after a magnificent late effort. Léopard du Berlais, the hot favourite, finished third, six and a half lengths behind.

Bred by Jacques Cyprès and Guillaume de Saint-Seine, president of France Galop, Selma de Vary began her career in France and even won at Auteuil when trained by Emmanuel Clayeux.

Since arriving there at the end of 2025, she has raced in the colours of Rich Ricci, for whom she finished second to Narcisco Has in the Grade 1 1:50

Gannon's City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle at the DRF and fouyrght in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Paul Townend was quoted on France Galop: “Selma de Vary is a very tough filly. She has had a very long season, starting in France before continuing in Ireland, at Cheltenham and Aintree. The rain helped her today. I would have preferred to wait a little longer because the home straight is very long. But what a tough filly she is!”

Brilliant jockey,

Harold Kirk was representing Mullins: “Yes, it was worth coming over for a very rainy day in Paris! What a ride! Paul Townend is a brilliant jockey, but she is also a very good filly. And she has had a demanding season, you know. She raced in France until November, then went to Cheltenham, then Liverpool, and now here.

“But she has shown that she is mentally very, very strong. She is brilliant. Emmanuel Clayeux recommended her to us, and we have bought many very good horses from Emmanuel Clayeux. He told us she was very good… and she really is.

“She loves soft ground. Paul felt they went too fast up front and knew they would come back to him. But that is also the way she needs to be ridden because you have to get her to relax. He even thought he hit the front too soon!

“We are still learning about her. We are still trying to teach her to relax. But she is a very, very good filly.

“One day she could become a Champion Hurdle mare. She is by Zarak out of a mare by Authorized. She was born to be very good. But I must say Emmanuel Clayeux told us she was very good. And when Emmanuel Clayeux says a horse is very good, it is generally true!”