48h de l’Obstacle – Losange Bleu, the star of Saturday

The 48h de l’Obstacle, the most important autumn racing weekend at Auteuil, will kick off on Saturday. Three Group races are on the card. The best hurdlers will meet in the Grand Prix d’Automne – Prix Serge Landon (Group 1). The defending champion, Losange Bleu, will be the star of this opening day. A ten-time Group winner, the highest level of racing, he is the M’Bappé of hurdles, a top-class athlete whose performance must be savoured. His rivals include Zarakhan, the family d’Andigné’s favourite horse, very good on the Flat and now among the best over hurdles, Jet Blue, who produced a remarkable finish in the trial, and Isis d’Inor, a mare who has kept improving and belongs to Dominique Eustache, a doctor who is also a rider, owner and breeder… A true enthusiast.

The best three-year-old fillies will be on track in the Haras d’Etreham Prix Magalen Bryant (Group 2). Good Girl de Faust impressed when winning the Prix de Chambly (Group 3). Delmegan has been among the best fillies since the spring. Just Happy and Bellina du Berlais made a big impression in their latest starts. Mélisse du Mathan also caught the eye with her finishing effort.

The third Group race on Saturday at Auteuil, the Prix Congress (Group 2), is the major steeplechase for three-year-olds. They will jump the rivière des tribunes for the first time, which could reshuffle the hierarchy currently dominated by Nador. He has brilliantly won two trials, but will have to pay the price by carrying more weight than his rivals. He is expected to go in front, and a fast pace combined with accurate jumping will be needed to follow him. Duc de Roche also won a trial and will be a serious rival for Nador, as will Moving Right, who will discover Auteuil’s steeplechase course, and Santander, who has done little wrong so far.