Le Défi des Haras – Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris : Quotes From The Connections

·       LE DÉFI DES HARAS – GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE DE PARIS

Louisa Carberry, trainer of Gran Diose (Sennones, Mayenne)

“Last Friday, Gran Diose jumped with his jockey Thomas Beaurain and everything went well. Then he worked on Saturday and did a light canter on Tuesday morning this week: all is well! He was calm, looked great and is just one kilo off his racing weight. He also did a light workout on Wednesday, but the main work is done. We just need to keep him in good shape. I’ve got him exactly where I wanted him to be at this stage of his preparation.

Gran Diose is a very good jumper. He can take long strides, or shorten up when he gets too close to a fence. When things don’t line up perfectly, he’s very agile for such a big horse. He loves Auteuil. Some horses can get sick of the place, but Gran Diose is fully at ease there. He also has a naturally strong cruising speed. He’s not a horse that changes gears like some others, but he can maintain his rhythm for a long time. He’s never been overwhelmed in a race. And he’s also come a long way thanks to James Reveley, the jockey who educated him over the years. Gran Diose is very handy and can be ridden anywhere in the race. Jockeys Clément Lefebvre and Thomas Beaurain both told me he’s very tractable. Gran Diose can either go forward or wait, always listening. That’s important over long distances. You don’t have to drop him out the back or go up front — you can ride him how you like, and that helps if plans need to change mid-race.

Compared to last year, I think he’s remained the same. But I saw a big change in him right before the 2024 Grand Steeple. I believe that his first Grand Steeple gave him a lot of confidence and morale. Naturally, he’s a rather sensitive and shy horse in his box. Early on, he lacked self-confidence, but not anymore. Now he pokes his head out and asks where his carrots are (laughs)! Maybe it’s because we’ve spoiled him and I keep telling him he’s the best! Before the Grand Steeple last year, I thought he was in the form of his life. In 2024, win or lose, he was going to run a big race — he was in great shape physically and mentally. And all through last year, he managed to maintain that form.”

François Nicolle, trainer of Goliath du Rheu and Diamond Carl (Saint-Augustin, Charente-Maritime)

“My two runners, Goliath du Rheu and Diamond Carl, are doing very well. They completed their final piece of work on Tuesday morning and everything went perfectly. They are energy-efficient horses, very relaxed, and they switch off during a race. They’ll manage themselves and we’ll try to do everything we can to finally, finally, finally win the Grand Steeple. We could have had better luck in this race in the past, but that’s the way it goes!”

Hugo Merienne, trainer of Incollable and In Love (Chantilly, Oise)

“Incollable is doing well. We fixed a couple of little things and he’s in good shape. His last run did him good, he needed that after being a bit rusty and fresh. But now he’s settled in the mornings and relaxed. We’re coming into the race in a good place. We’ve been waiting a long time to run him in the Grand Steeple. He won’t mind the good ground — he goes on any surface. He’s a fighter; he always puts in a shift. No matter the ground or the distance, he loves what he does! Jockey Felix de Giles will ride him. He came to school him on Monday morning and returned on Wednesday.”

“In Love had a big season last year. Initially, we planned to aim him at the Grand National, but we didn’t quite have the rating to get in. So we returned to Pau thinking we’d run him in the Grand Prix to prepare for spring targets. But he was tired and lacking fluency. So he went on holiday, and we brought him back gradually. He was lacking at Compiègne, but at Lyon-Parilly, he reassured me. I saw what I needed to see. He’s doing great now, in top form. On paper, he’s a notch below Gran Diose and Grandeur Nature, but he’s always up for the fight. He loves good ground, he’s well, now it’s all about execution… In Love has run three times beyond 5,000m and always performed well. His strength is that he makes no effort when galloping. He does the bare minimum, which is also a bit of a weakness, because he can lack sharpness. That’s why we run him over hurdles sometimes — to make him more fluent, so he doesn’t get caught flat-footed and can jump on the move. At Pau, having run only in steeplechases, I found he’d lost some fluency. I’m really happy with him now — he’s just like last year (he finished fourth in the 2024 Grand Steeple). He’ll be partnered by jockey Benjamin Gelhay. We were hesitating between running him in the Prix Arthur Veil-Picard at Auteuil or at Lyon-Parilly, which was our favourite option. At the same time, Général en Chef had an issue and Benjamin became available. He had ridden him very well at Lyon and will ride him again in the Grand Steeple. The two of them get along great.”

James Reveley, jockey of Kolokico (Chantilly, Oise)

“I think this is a horse who can stay the Grand Steeple distance. He has a solid cruising speed that he can sustain for a long time. That’s how he won the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure in 2024. There was a strong pace, and he was able to follow the leaders and finish well. In the Grand Steeple, if I can slot him in behind the front runners — so he can relax — and if the race has tempo, that will suit us perfectly. Up front, Kolokico can be a bit keen and pull, but sometimes he can switch off. He’s more focused when ridden among horses. I hope the extra distance will make the difference. I’m very happy to be taking part in the Grand Steeple with a real chance for trainer Emmanuel Clayeux. I’ve ridden for him almost my entire career in France. Together, we finished second in the 2022 Grand Steeple with Gex. If we could go one better this year, that would be amazing (laughs)!”

Nicolas de Lageneste, owner of Grandeur Nature (Saint-Voir, Allier)

“In the Prix du Vivarais, on his return, we didn’t want to be too hard on him. He lacked a bit of desire. I trust his trainers to get him back on track and lift his spirits — and they’ve done just that. He won’t have the heavy ground he likes, which is a bit of a handicap. He had some tough battles last year and needed a mental refresh. I believe Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and François Pamart have done what’s necessary. He’s been turned out in the paddock and all systems are go. He’s got experience on his side and knows the course, which is an asset. He’s well and well-prepared. Now we just need everything to fall into place.”

Mickaël Seror, trainer of Le Roi David (Chantilly, Oise)

“Watching some of the prep races, I was disappointed by certain runners. Le Roi David is courageous, a great jumper, and he’ll enjoy good ground — qualities others may lack. We’re taking on the challenge hoping to land a good placing in the Grand Steeple. We ran him on the Flat when he was tackling big handicaps, which are tough to win. To lift his spirits, we gave him easier races to aim at, to get him to peak form for the big events. That strategy paid off — he returned to jumping with a win. After winning his hurdle handicaps, we switched him to steeplechasing, where he’s been incredible in the air, even though he was sometimes careless over hurdles. Steeplechasing is clearly his game now, but he still needs more experience at Auteuil. He’s a very intelligent horse, very careful — a great trait for a jumper! He has heart, generosity, but he studies his fences a lot. Ten metres out, he’s already pricking his ears to assess the jump. He’s got radar at the tips of his hooves! I was really happy with his last run — he wasn’t fully fit. Jockey Baptiste Le Clerc will ride him. He schooled him over fences earlier this week.”

Manon Scandella-Lacaille, trainer of Hasard de Brion (Calas, Bouches-du-Rhône)

“Sometimes, he can have a setback after a race, but not this time. After the Prix Ingré, Hasard de Brion came out of it beautifully. He looks magnificent and has filled out well. He’s peaking just in time for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. There’s nothing more to teach him. He schooled before his return and that’s it. My biggest wish for Sunday is that everything goes well. We’re approaching the race with no pressure, because even though he’s good, there are some excellent horses in the lineup. He’s got staying power and he’s an excellent jumper. It’s still a horse race… and a jumps race at that! We’re not here just to add a runner or make up the numbers — Hasard de Brion has a real chance. He came through the preps well and delivered.

To represent my region in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is fabulous! I still find it regrettable that there are no more jumps races around here... It really shows that every region needs its own jumps programme. There are still races in Nîmes, but it’s not what you’d call a proper schedule. So we race our horses in the capital.

Last year, we skipped the race due to lack of maturity. But this year, he’s at the top of his game! I’m not sure I’ll ever have a horse in the Arc, so having one in the Grand Steeple is already amazing! I do think it’s more accessible to stumble upon a good jumper someday. But having a horse like him, five years after starting the yard… We are very aware of how lucky we are.”

·       PRIX FERDINAND DUFAURE

François Nicolle, trainer of Le Rivage and Lecoeurdeshommes (Saint-Augustin, Charente-Maritime)

“Le Rivage and Lecoeurdeshommes are both heading to the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure. They seem to be in very good shape. We’re hoping for a comeback performance from Lecoeurdeshommes — he’s left us wanting more in his last few starts. We’ve been a bit disappointed each time, but I find him in great form right now. Maybe he’s ready to take the next step. Le Rivage had a silly fall last time out. He looks well and we’ll see how it goes. Both have a chance.”

Mickaël Seror, trainer of Altura and Neva (Chantilly, Oise)

“In the mornings, Altura is a filly with plenty of go. As soon as she’s in front, she wants to show her action. But she stays manageable and easy once placed behind a leader. For training, we put her behind another horse to help her settle. Long before her debut, I knew she would become a steeplechase filly. Nicolas de Chambure has trusted me from the start. The filly requires careful physical and mental handling, but he always listened to me. That’s how we arrive here as one of the Group 1 favourites. She’ll be ridden by Kévin Nabet.”

“Neva isn’t quite at the level of the top fillies, but she is very tough… and you need to be tough to run well in Group 1s. She’s an excellent jumper who will enjoy the 4,400m. On paper, she’s more of a fourth- or fifth-place chance. If she runs a great race and a few of the favourites underperform, even a third would be a great result. She really toughened up during the Pau winter meeting, and she’s been trained over fences for a while. She’s already run three times this year in that discipline. She’ll have an easier programme later in the year, against her own sex. Bryony Frost will ride her.”

Dominique Bressou, trainer of Lanivtsi (Dragey, Manche)

“In the Ferdinand Dufaure, there will surely be a lot of pace. Everything will need to go right. Lanivtsi is a horse for the future. He still makes some effort at his fences, but I really like him. He’s improving with every race. He’s got a touch of Flat class — he even won on the level — and can deliver a strong finishing kick.”

·       PRIX ALAIN DU BREIL – COURSE DE HAIES DE PRINTEMPS DES QUATRE ANS

Mickaël Seror, trainer of Nikkaluokta, Djin’s and Proud Lucy (Chantilly, Oise)

“Nikkaluokta wasn’t difficult to school over hurdles because in the morning, he’s very easy. But when he’s behind others, he struggles to keep up and never wins a gallop. The hard part is in the afternoon. He was already a tricky ride on the Flat, so we knew what to expect. That’s why we chose to hold him up, but he was very keen. However, as soon as he’s detached from the pack, he can’t follow anymore. He has potential but now he needs to learn to control himself. The other day, those who don’t know him might have had doubts — I didn’t. I could tell from his behaviour that things were going well. On Sunday, with the firmer ground and the rail back to zero, he’ll have to stay focused, especially at the Pavillon hurdle. If he does, then it will take a very fast horse to catch him! Baptiste Le Clerc will ride him.”

“Proud Lucy had a busy winter and early 2024 season, between the Flat and the Cagnes meeting. She proved she belongs at the top level, even on faster ground. She ticks all the boxes, which is why we decided to preserve her to arrive at her peak on Sunday. She and Nikkaluokta have been two great revelations. Nikkaluokta was a claiming horse, Proud Lucy arrived in the yard with a rating of 24. When you start with profiles like that, you don’t expect to run in a Group race with a live chance! In the mornings, Proud Lucy is straightforward, but at first she was quite keen in her hurdle races, while she was cold on the Flat. She learned with time. Now she’s very handy and focused — that’s her strength. She’s never run over 3,900m, but that won’t be a problem.”

“Djin’s ran very poorly last time out. I didn’t give jockey Kévin Nabet the right instructions. As a precaution, the horse will wear a hood for the first time. We started the season with high hopes. What reassures me is remembering how he looked from the last hurdle to the finish last time — it should go well. Kévin Nabet rides again.”

Dominique Bressou, trainer of Webcam (Dragey, Manche)

“Webcam has progressed well, and this time she’ll wear Australian blinkers. In her last race, we were surprised by the pace set by the winner, Nikkaluokta. Between the last two hurdles, I thought Webcam was going to win, but she couldn’t close the gap. She deserves another look.”

·       RACING TV – GRANDE COURSE DE HAIES D’AUTEUIL

Dominique Bressou, trainer of Losange Bleu (Dragey, Manche)

“Since his last win, he’s been doing well. He did a bit more serious work last Saturday. Johnny Charron came to school him, and everything went very well. Now we just need to head to the races. At the start of the season, when I saw that Thélème and Kingland were no longer around, we planned for Losange Bleu to improve race by race. For his seasonal debut, he was carrying 72 kilos. He was fit that day, but maybe not 100%. That made me realise he was short of condition. We adjusted things for the Prix Léon Rambaud, and then he showed his best form.”

Mickaël Seror, trainer of Imbatable du Seuil (Chantilly, Oise)

“Imbatable du Seuil doesn’t need much time to come to hand. Early this year, he made a good return with very little work. I continued to undertrain him, which turned out to be a mistake. In his second run, he performed very poorly, showing no motivation. So we worked him harder after that and changed his exercise rider. As a result, in the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps, he set the record straight with a strong performance. Jockey Kévin Nabet will ride him. His main challenge is that there’s no real programme for him. In France, there’s no race available for him over very long distances. I’d rather run him out of category but over a trip that suits him, and hope he can grab a nice place!”

François Nicolle, trainer of Kentucky Wood (Saint-Augustin, Charente-Maritime)

“Kentucky Wood goes back over hurdles. We’re trying to make him forget about chasing, where he was jumping too big. Returning to hurdles was Nicolas de Lageneste’s idea, and it was a good one. So we’re going back to hurdles, and the step up in trip will help him. It’s a strong field — this is the Grande Course de Haies. In terms of raw class, he’s a notch below the favourites, but he can pick up a good placing. Angelo Zuliani will be aboard.”