48h de l’Obstacle – A fabulous Sunday

If you have to pick one date to go racing in November, it’s this Sunday, 16 November at Auteuil. Eight races are on the card, including… four Group 1 events. Yes, four of the nine Group 1 hurdles and chases of the year will be run this Sunday. Such a concentration of top-level races and champions only happens twice a year at Auteuil.

In the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Group 1), the major autumn steeplechase, despite several champions being absent, there will still be serious contenders on the track such as Sel Jem, winner of the prep race and of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Group 1) in 2022, Kolokico, runner-up in the 2025 Grand Steeple, Gold Tweet, who beat the English on their home turf in 2023 and has already shone over the Auteuil fences, his stablemate Amy du Kiff, an excellent third in the prep, Brexit, winner of the Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy (Group 3), Juntos Ganamos, among the best since his three-year-old season, La Marche Bleue, also very talented from an early age, and Kaadam, the best four-year-old in 2024.

In the Prix Maurice Gillois (Group 1), the major four-year-old steeplechase, Leader Sport, a tall and powerful colt, will try to confirm the status he earned after his brilliant victory in the Prix Orcada (Group 3). He will once again have to beat Lanivtsi, winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Group 1), the spring equivalent of the Prix Maurice Gillois. Altura was impressive in the spring, and this generous filly makes her seasonal return in a very open renewal of the Prix Maurice Gillois.

Another Group 1 on Sunday, the Prix Renaud du Vivier is the equivalent of the Prix Maurice Gillois but for four-year-old hurdlers. Winner of the Prix Cambacérès (Group 1) at three, Sain d’Esprit will try to do just as well a year later. He will face the Prix Alain du Breil (Group 1) winner, Kivala du Berlais, It’s Win O’Clock, who took the prep race, Nikkaluokta, a colt with plenty of pace, Le Petit Cheval, who keeps climbing the ladder, and the newcomer Illusion Machine, who faces a real test in this race.

Finally, in the Prix Cambacérès (Group 1), the best three-year-olds will line up and the cast once again looks exceptional. The unbeaten Léopard du Berlais is potentially a star and will try to confirm it against the best three-year-old filly, Olga de Kiev, who made a stunning impression last time out. To play the role of referee in this exceptional clash, one can mention the Irish challenger Dignam, Shannon Maestro, Bourbon Has, who was impressive recently, and the reliable The Mighty Celt. Each Group 1 promises a superb line-up.

Plenty to enjoy this weekend in a mountain-like atmosphere at Auteuil.