Hypothèse Hurdle Race: New scene for L'Autonomie

Moved this year by a few weeks from March to June, and run in Compiègne as Auteuil is still locked down, the Hypothese Hurdle Race (Gr3) brings together the best hurdlers in the country on Sunday, starting with the champion L'Autonomie (Blue Brésil) as well as El Gringo (Kamsin) and Porto Pollo (Manduro), who have just followed her in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2), on May 17 at Auteuil…

1. STAUNTON STREET (g6, FRA by Martaline and Nagaoka, by Goofalik) Weight: 10st 10lbs, Rating: 150lbs

This six years old gelding ran only thirteen times to date, over four seasons. Consistent in his results, he has just won his best race in the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps Handicap Hurdle (Gr3), under 10st10lbs. His rating has increased by 13lbs and he is forced to try his luck again at the best level over hurdles. He had failed just before this success in the Juigné Hurdle Race (Gr3) against the same kind of horses here but the ground was very heavy that day.

2. EL GRINGO (h6, FRA by Kamsin and Cinecitta, by Diesis) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 161lbs

He has alternated flat races, hurdle races and steeplechase with great success so far and has been sent to another trainer after a good winter meeting in Pau, including a second place in the Grand Prix de Pau Chase (Gr3). Back in Auteuil, he won over hurdles against some good chasers such as Bipolaire (3rd) and Carriacou (5th). Then, he took a superb second place in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race (Gr2) behind L'Autonomie. He will try to confirm here, on his debut racecourse!

3. PAUL’S SAGA (f6, FRA by Martaline and Humoriste, by Saint Cyrien) Weight: 10st 8lbs, Rating: 165lbs

Winner last year of the Grande course de haies de Printemps (Gr3), the biggest handicap Hurdle race of the French program, she succeeded then against the very best as she finished the season with a win in the Carmarthen Hurdle Race (Gr3), a second place in the Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle Race (Gr1), and finally another win in the Léon Olry-Roederer Hurdle Race (Gr2). For her return in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race (Gr2) at Auteuil, she was prominent until the last hurdle and faded then. She has already won over hurdles at Compiègne.

4. PESK EBREL (h6, FRA Enrique and River Flyer, by River Majesty) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 154lbs

Winner of the Pride of Kildare 3yo Hurdle race for his debut over jumps at Auteuil in November 2017, he soon joined the elite of his generation at 4 and finished fifth in the Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr1). Out from September 2018 to May 22, he started for the first time under the training of David Cottin with an easy victory over hurdles at Dieppe.

5. L'AUTONOMIE (f5, FRA by Blue Brésil and L’Automne, by Kahyasi) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 172lbs

Champion 4-year-old hurdler last year, she ended her season with five wins including the Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle Race (Gr1). For her first test against aged horses, in March in the Juigné Hurdle Race (Gr3), she left Côtée Sud, also 5, and Galop Marin at six and thirteen lengths respectively and has just confirmed in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race (Gr2) at Auteuil. It’s the first time she’s running outside of Auteuil.

6. CORAZONES (h8, FRA by Nidor and Céline Mon Cœur, by Sanglamore) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 146lbs

Bought in a claimer at 4, he is consistent over hurdles and chases alike and has now made over € 400,000. He ran only three times in 2019 and did not reappear nearly a year after his fall in the Drags Chase (Gr2), last June. Fifth at Compiègne for his return, he recently took a second place in the Romati Chase (Gr3), run at Dieppe instead of ... Compiègne, where he finished third in the Léopold d'Orsetti (Gr3), the top local hurdle race, in November 2018.

7. BALLOTIN (h9, FRA by Enrique and Orphée de Vonnas, by Jimble) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: -

Winner at Auteuil on both specialities, Group-placed over hurdles when trained by Guillaume Macaire, he was exported to England at 6 in 2017 and won there but came back to France this winter to Patrice Quinton's yard. This is his first start with this new trainer after seven months out.

8. PORTO POLLO (h5, FRA by Manduro and Silky Steps, by Nayef) Weight: 10st 3lbs, Rating: 154lbsHe was one of the best of his generation at 3 and still proves to be very consistent at this level, both over hurdles and chasing, but he is struggling to win now against the best. Back for a new season here in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2), he finished well to take third place in the run-in.