5 April 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
The highlight of the chasing season at Auteuil, the Prix Murat Chase (Gr2) is held Saturday as part of an early meeting with a first start at 12:45 pm. This exceptional edition brings together six champions to succeed Perfect Impulse, the retired title holder. We once again find Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix), winner of a second Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) last November. The Jacques Détré-owned grey has just won for his comeback over hurdles at Auteuil. We also find his usual rival Milord Thomas (Kapgarde), third of the Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre Chase (Gr3) last time out behind a commanding winner, Le Costaud (Forestier), who is again at the start here over 4,400 metres.
Second in the Prix Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) at the end of last year and very pleasant for his come back over hurdles in the Prix Hypothèse Hurdle Race (Gr3), where he finished second to the untouchable De Bon Coeur, Crystal Beach (Network) is back chasing in an exceptional edition of the classic Prix Murat Chase ...
Another race to look forward to on Saturday at Auteuil, the Prix de Pépinvast Hurdle Race (Gr3) gathers the best 4-year-old hurdlers, especially the first three of the recent Prix d'Indy Hurdle Race (Gr3), namely Feu Follet (Kapgarde), Byzantium du Berlais (Martaline) and Pat du Pont (Cokoriko). Third in the Prix Camille Duboscq (L) at Pau after two wins at the Pont-Long course, Laterana (Saint des Saints) can reveal herself in a generation that, since the early retirement of its leader Beaumec de Houelle at stud, is looking for a leader.
Also on Auteuil card on Saturday the return of the promising 3-year-olds Aterisk (No Risk At All) and Al Cuarto (Nicaron) in the Prix Champoreau and the Prix Champaubert Hurdle races, three weeks after their successful debut on this racecourse. Leading trainer Guillaume Macaire trains both.
We are also looking forward to the return of the prodigious Blue Dragon (Califet) on the hurdles of the Prix Jean Granel (L), 664 days after his last appearance. Guy Cherel then trained him, and David Cottin was riding. The latter is now his trainer, still for the owner Magalen Bryant, associated with David Powell and Denis Baer. Winner of ten hurdle races including two Group1s, he is this time ridden by Jonathan Plouganou, who once rode him to victory in November 2016.