12 June 2020
Photo Jean Stern 4yo Chase: scoopdyga.com
The Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1) is the top steeple-chase for 4yo in the first semester in France. It's obviously supposed to be run at Auteuil, but this year, the coronavirus outbreak had changed everything and so it goes in June at Compiegne.
This contest's history teaches us that it's not an easy task to win again in the Autumn in the Maurice Gillois 4yo Chase (Gr1). On the other hand, every horse who's won both also won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.
Winner of the last prep race, the Jean Stern Chase (Gr2), Gardons le Sourire (Fame and Glory) will be favourite again here, especially now that his second and third that day are out.
- 1. KING EDWARD (h4, FRA by Martaline ex Kotkari, by Ballingarry) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kgs/66kgs
5th in the Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2) won by Dream Wish last year, this entire won his first race for his comeback in the Duc d’Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3), winning in a final rush thanks to a favourable weight condition. In the Jean Stern 4yo Chase (Gr2), he still finished well but had been belated by a bad jump.
- 2. YEIAYEL (g4, FRA par Protektor et Citydanse, par Sagacity) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/ -
A winner over hurdles at Auteuil, he ran in two chases this season, at Angers and Moulins, finishing twice second. Tall order now.
- 3. LE LUDE (g4, FRA by Turgeon ex La Turbale, by Ange Gabriel) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/67kg
He's just won his first race for his first time out with blinkers on, in an Auteuil chase, beating Nanosecond and Gochetial by 10 and 14 lengths respectively. He's tried and failed to cope with the best last season, and never ran out of Auteuil.
- 4. AL CUARTO (g4, by Nicaron ex Vie Ta Vie, by Villez) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/65kg
One of the best hurdlers at 3, he was switched to chasing last year and took the second place of the Congress 3yo Chase (Gr2) for his second run over the bigger obstacles. Second again at the end of the season at Compiègne, he ran well in the Duc d’Anjou 4yo Chase (Gr3), 2nd to King Edward, but couldn't keep up in the Jean Stern 4yo Chase (Gr2) lately.
- 5. BAXTER DU BERLAIS (g4, FRA by Saint des Saints ex Bonita du Berlais, by King’s Theatre) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/63,5kg
A claiming winner last year over hurdles at Auteuil, he was then transferred to Écurie Sagara and switched to the steeple-chase last Winter at Pau, where he's won his previous two chases, including a handicap last time carrying over 11st.
- 6. GARDONS LE SOURIRE (g4, FRA by Fame and Glory ex Place au Soleil, by Trempolino) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/67kg
He first won two of his three hurdle races, then won his first chase at Compiègne in October, three weeks later trying his luck at Auteuil, finishing second to The Revenant. He won the Jean Stern 4yo Chase (Gr2) recently, closing in, and now stands as the potential favourite.
- 7. GOCHETIAL (g4, FRA by Doctor Dino ex La Basket, by Ungaro) Weight / Rating in kgs: 67kg/62kg
It will be his 11th race and his 4th chase. A winner over hurdles at Auteuil at 3 in a handicap, he finished in the frame in his last three steeple-chases but is trying the best without a win.
- 8. NANOSECOND (f4, FRA by Doctor Dino ex Sweet Nano, by Turgeon) Weight / Rating in kgs: 65kg/ -
She won her first chase in the Didier Mescam Chase beating Gochetial, then finished 2nd between Le Lude and Gochetial and can have improved again.