Ajas supreme in Pau Grand Prix

Sunday, January 24, 2021, Pau. - In the lead from the start, the favourite Ajas (No Risk At All) won easily after holding off Eddy de Balme (Cachet Noir) at the last of the twenty jumps in the €100,000 134th Grand Prix de Pau Foie Gras Biraben Chase (Gr3). Homebred by Ulf Sjoberg, he won by four lengths over his rival while Deo Gratias (Saddler Maker) finished well at a good length.

This is the third consecutive edition of the Pau classic won by David Cottin as a trainer. He won the race three times as a rider.

This is the second time that Ajas made the frame in a group steeplechase. He also finished second in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiègne (Gr2) last November behind Matfog (Vendôme Style), quickly beaten this time under 11-3.

Ajas had previously made a North European campaign until last spring. Since then, he has finished seven times first and three times second, both over hurdles and fences.

His dam Seraglio (Singspiel) won a bumper in Market Rasen before entering stud. She is a sister to several all-weather and hurdle winners.

Ajas's older sister, the only one to date according to the France Galop website, Goddess Frija (Kapgarde), now 8, did not find a buyer last November at Arqana at € 25,000, even though she was in foal to Zarak. She had won at Pau over hurdles and Moulins steeplechasing, and in 2020 gave birth to a colt by… No Risk At All!