La Périchole 4yo Chase Preview: Le Berry explores new land

Seven will meet at the start of the La Périchole 4yo Chase (Gr3) after Gesskille, one of the six entries trained by François Nicolle, was withdrawn.

In this last encounter for the top 4-year-old chasers, which is usually due to serve as consolation for the Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1) also-rans, only one is out again, namely the third-placed Nanosecond (Doctor Dino ).

The favourite, however, will probably be the grey Le Berry (Gemix), who has just made a very big impression and has easily won his two chases to date.

• 1. LE BERRY (g4, FRA by Gemix and Kalberry, by Kaldounevees) Rating: 150lbs

Trained at Chantilly, fifth last year after his victorious debut over hurdles in the Georges de Talhouët-Roy 3yo Hurdle Race (Gr3), he started and won easily his first chase for his return to Compiègne and repeated in a Listed that he won by ten lengths, beating the 3rd Polisud, whom he faces again here, by almost eleven lengths.

• 2. GRATOS DE L’ISLE (g4, FRA by Cokoriko and Quetsch de l'Isle, by Kadalko) Rating: 134lbs

Trained in Charente, he was placed over hurdles at Auteuil last year and switched to chasing this season. Seventh for his chasing debut at Dieppe, he won fighting next time out, leaving with his sparring partner the 3^rd-place far behind for his first chase at Auteuil.

• 3. POLISUD (g4, FRA by Lord du Sud and Polimere, by Poliglote) Rating: 138lbs

Trained in Charente, he could not win over hurdles but won his chasing debut at Compiègne in November, just before finishing second for his first trial at Auteuil. Beaten twice at Auteuil this season, however, he finished third, ten lengths behind Le Berry since then.

• 4. HIGH KING (g4, FRA by Turgeon and King’s Crystal, by King’s Theatre) Rating: 139lbs

Trained in Charente, he was placed at Auteuil last year and won the two chases he competed this season, at Toulouse and then Clairefontaine, dominating the front-runner in the run-in.

• 5. MAGRUDY (g4, FRA by Doctor Dino and Affaire de Mœurs, by Kaldounevees) Rating: 139lbs

Trained in Charente, he won two hurdle races last year. Third for his chasing debut at Moulins, he took a third place on the Bouscat steeplechase at Bordeaux, and has just won at Compiègne, easily, on very soft ground.

• 6. GESSKILE

(non-runner)

• 7. NANOSECOND (f4, FRA by Doctor Dino and Sweet Nano, by Turgeon) Rating: 146lbs

Trained in Charente, she started her chasing account with a win in the Didier Mescam Chase, then finished second and confirmed her progress by finishing third at 3.5 lengths of Gardons le Sourire in the Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1).

• 8. GOLDEN PARK (f4, FRA by Walk in the Park and Goldnella, by Goldneyev) Rating: 63kg