Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris History : The Auteuil Gold Cup

May, Auteuil (Paris)

GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE DE PARIS

Group 1, 5yo and +, Steeple-chase,  6,000m/3m6f, 820 000 €

Created in 1874

Last winner: Sel Jem (g5, FRA by Masked Marvel ex Iles des Saintes, by Saint des Saints), owned by Mrs Patrick Papot, bred by Florence Lormand, trained by Hector de Lageneste & Guillaume Macaire, ridden by Johnny Charron.

The race is run in 2023 for the 145th time.

The 2022 edition

May 22, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). – Winner of the €135,000 Troytown Chase (Gr3) and the €210,000 Murat Chase (Gr2), 5-year-old Sel Jem (Masked Marvel) was the favourite at the start of the €820,000 144th Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (French Gold Cup, Gr1), facing 15 rivals over the race's infamous 3m6f course. Ridden by 42-year-old Johnny Charron, and trained on Royan-La Palmyre racecourse by Hector de Lageneste and Guillaume Macaire, the Papot Family-owned gelding was given a perfect trip and never put a foot wrong. He took over at the second last jump and dominated in the run-in, beating Gex (Khalkevi), who'd made a costly mistake at the big open-ditch first time round, at 8 lengths with Irish raider Franco de Port (Coastal Path), an exported AQPS halfbred exported after his initial Auteuil win, at 5 lengths in third. The race was led all the way by a brave Général en Chef (Martaline), finally sixth, who at first travelled with Glorice (Network), seventh, and Feu Follet (Kapgarde), the other race's favourite, as he had just beat Sel Jem in the €140,000 Ingré Chase (Gr3), but he jumped awkwardly again today ans started to fade in the last turn. Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo (Buck’s Boum) was never in contention and had to be pulled up.

It is the 7th win in the Auteuil classic for trainer Guillaume Macaire, now the only record man ahead of Bernard Sécly's 6 wins. It was the third Grand Steeple won by the Papot Family after Bel La Vie (2013) and On the Go (2018), both also trained by Macaire. It was, however, Johnny Charron's first win in the race.

Sel Jem netted his connections (owner, trainer, rider and stable staff) a €150,000 bonus for winning two Grand Steeple Masters prep races this season.

It was Sel Jem's 10th race only. He started his career over hurdles at Compiegne with 2nd place in November 2020 and won next time out at the Lion d’Angers eight months later. A winner for his chasing debut at Dieppe soon after, he confirmed at Auteuil in a Listed Chase before his 2nd place in the Maurice Gillois behind the filly Let Me Love (entered at the end of the week at Angers). Beaten again by a filly, La Danza, in the Morgex Chase (Gr2) three weeks later, he came back in 22 with a win in the Troytown Chase and the Murat Chase before finishing 2nd to Feu Follet in the Ingré Chase.

Sel Jem was bred by Florence Lormand in Normandy. His dam Ile des Saintes (Saint des Saints) did not run. Sel Jem is her 3rd foal in 6 years and her last to date according to France Galop website. She also foaled Jem Bien (Dream Well), who won his first race last January in a Pau claiming Chase, aged 7. He had been unsold at €24,000 at Arqana's Summer sales at 2 in 2017. Ile des Saintes is a sister to Jemykos (Nikos), winner of a Grande Course de Haies de Pau (L), and to the dam of Jemy Baie (Crillon), winner of this same Troytown Chase in 2016.

History

The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is the most prestigious jumps race in France and also the richest with €820,000 up for grabs in 2021. 

The “Grand Steeple” was first staged at Auteuil on 25 May 1874, under the name of the “Grand National de France”. Open to horses from all countries, it saw itself as the French equivalent of its famous British elder, the Grand National Steeplechase” held at Aintree near Liverpool since 1839.

In 1874, eighteen competitors lined up at the start of this handicap steeplechase consisting of twenty-two jumps over 3 miles 8 furlongs, the winner of which netted a handsome 38,700 francs. In this inaugural year, it was one of a trio of horses from England, the filly Miss Hungerford, who edged it ahead of Dominus. The latter was subsequently demoted for passing outside a flag and second place was awarded to Marche Mal. Only five horses completed the course, with twelve falling and one pulling up.

In 1876, at the request of the local authority who provided 10,000 francs towards the prize money, the race adopted its current name, the “Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris”. Not held because of war from 1915 to 1918 and in 1940, the race will be contested for the 136th time in 2014.

In 1889, the winner, Le Torpilleur, received record prize money of 120,000 francs, which was not too far short of the 155,400 francs paid out to Vasistas, the winner of the most important flat race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris.

Unraced between 1915 and 1918 and in 1940, the race was run 5 months late in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Changes to the conditions

In 1890, the Grand Steeple changed from a handicap to a “weight-for-age race”: under 4 years old = 62 ½ kg; under 5 years old = 70 kg; under 6 years old and over = 72 ½ kg. In 1920, these weights were cut to 60 kg, 68 kg and 69 kg respectively. In 1941, 4-year-olds were axed from the race and the weights were fixed at: under 62 kg for 5-year-olds and under 64 kg for 6-year-olds and over. Due to the increasing average size of jockeys over the years, the weights eventually had to be increased again. Currently, 5-year-olds carry up to 65 kg and their elders 67 kg. The 4-year-old category has produced sixteen winners, the last of which was the Duc d’Anjou in 1932.

From 1890, a penalty weight of 6 kg was imposed on all winners of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris or the Grand National at Aintree. Reduced gradually to 5, 4, 3 and 2 kg, this penalty was removed in 1972.

Originally fixed at 3 miles 8 furlongs, the distance of the Grand Steeple was reduced to 3 miles 5 ½ furlongs in 1875, then raised to 4 miles in 1889. In 1924 and 1925, it was extended further, to 4 miles 2 ½ furlongs, before returning to 4 miles in 1926. 1969 and 1970 saw a further change when it was cut to 3 miles 7 ½ furlongs. In 1971, it reverted to the traditional 4 miles and twenty-eight jumps, but only for ten years. From 1981, the distance was reduced to 3 miles 5 furlongs, with twenty-three jumps. But in 2014 it was once again extended to 3 miles 6 furlongs.

The Grand Steeple has been won by foreign-trained horses twelve times: 1874 Miss Hungerford, 1877 Congress, 1882 Whisper Low, 1883 Too Good, 1885 Redpath, 1888 Parasang, 1890 Royal Meath, 1893 Skedaddle, 1910 Jerry M, 1919 Troytown, 1925 Silvo and 1962 Mandarin. The latter had in fact been born and initially trained in France. The most recent placed foreigner was Ireland’s Captain Christy, second in 1975.

Only two horses have won the Grand National at Aintree and the Grand Steeple at Auteuil. They are Jerry M, a winner in 1910 in France and in 1912 in England, and Troytown, who emulated him in 1919 and 1920. The French horse, Lutteur III, a winner at Aintree in 1909, could only finish third in the Grand Steeple two years later.

Only three horses have succeeded in winning the Grand Steeple three times. They are Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966), Katko (1988, 1989, 1990) and Mid Dancer (2007, 2011, 2012). But the latter also finished third on two occasions, in 2008 and 2013.

Nine horses have registered two wins. They are Wild Monarch (1878, 1879), Dandolo (1904, 1908), Ingré (1937, 1939), Lindor (1946, 1947), Huron (1969, 1970) and Ucello II (1993, 1994), Kotkijet (2001, 2004), Princesse d’Anjou (2006, 2008) and So French (2016, 2017).

The Grand Steeple has been won by twelve non-thoroughbreds AQPS: Isopani (1981), Jasmin II (1983), Otage du Perche (1986), Oteuil SF (1987), The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995), Arénice (1996), Al Capone II (1997), First Gold (1998), El Paso III (2002) and Polar Rochelais (2010).

In 2002, first place was awarded to El Paso III after he came in second behind Double Car, who was demoted after a test revealed the presence of a banned substance in the biological sample taken after the race.

Owners

• Arthur Veil-Picard (6 wins) : Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911), Ultimatum (1913), Fleuret (1935) & Ingré (1937,1939).
• Mrs de Moratalla (5 wins) : The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995) & First Gold (1998). 
• Mr de Saint-Sauveur (4 wins) : Ventriloque (1876), Wild Monarch (1878, 1879) & Maubourguet (1881). 
• Jean Stern (4 wins) : Canard (1905), Lindor (1946, 1947) & Cousin Pons (1961).

Entraîneurs

• Guillaume Macaire (7 wins) : Arénice (1996), Bel la Vie (2013), Storm of Saintly (2014), So French (2016, 2017), On The Go (2018), Sel Jem (2022).
• Bernard Sécly (6 wins) : Mon Filleul (1978), Katko (1988, 1989, 1990), Al Capone II (1997) & El Paso III (2002);
• Wallace Davis (5 wins) : Dandolo (1904, 1908), Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911) & Ultimatum (1913). 
• André Adèle (5 wins) : Sidéré (1958), Huron (1969, 1970), Giquin (1973) & Corps à Corps (1977). 
• Léon Gaumondy (5 wins) : Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966), Haroué (1968) & Sir Gain (1985). 
• François Doumen (5 wins) : The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995) & First Gold (1998).
• Joseph Ginzbourg (4 wins) : Agitato (1934), Fleuret (1935) & Ingré (1937,1939). 
• André Fabre (4 wins) : Fondeur (1980), Isopani (1981), Metatero (1982) & Jasmin II (1983). 
• Jean-Paul Gallorini (4 wins) : Chinco (1979), Kotkijet (2001, 2004) & Remember Rose (2009). 

In 2019, Isabelle Pacault became the first female trainer to win the Grand Steeple, with Carriacou, followed in 2020 by Louisa Carberry, thanks to Docteur de Ballon.

Riders

• Jean Daumas (5 wins) : Xanthor (1959), Cousin Pons (1961) & Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966).
• Max Bonaventure (4 wins) : Fleuret (1935), Ingré (1937,1939) & Kargal (1943). 
• George Parfrement (3 wins) : Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911) & Ultimatum (1913). 
• Daniel Guiho (3 wins) : Symbole (1942), Boum (1945) & Lindor (1947). 
• Dominique Vincent (3 wins) : Katko (1988), The Fellow (1991) & El Triunfo (1992). 
• Jean-Yves Beaurain (3 wins) : Katko (1989, 1990) & Al Capone II (1997). 
• Christophe Pieux (3 wins) : Line Marine (2003), Sleeping Jack (2005) & Remember Rose (2009).
• James Reveley (3 wins) : So French (2016, 2017) & On The Go (2018).
• Bertrand Lestrade (3 wins) : Bel La Lvie (2013), Docteur de Ballon (2020, 2021).

The youngest Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winning rider is René Sauval. Born on April 6, 1889, he was 17, one month and 27 days when he rode Burgrave II to victory on June 3, 1906.