Léon Rambaud Hurdle History: Last jump before the top flight
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An important step towards the top French Hurdle race, echoing the Murat chase, the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2) was previously run before the La Barka Hurdle (Gr2), which was reversed for the first time in 2018 with the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, that is the French Champion Hurdle. It has now been extended to 4,300m, that is 2m5 1/2f, to better play its role as the last springboard towards the 5,100m/3m1 1/2f of the top race.
April, Auteuil
Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race
Group 2, 5-year-olds and more, Hurdle Race, 4,300m/2m5 1/2f, €174,000
Created in 1930
Last winner: Hooligan (g9 IRE by Aizavoski & Victory Run, by Old Vic, owned by Dermot O'Donohoe, John Cavanagh, Sharon Colleen Nelson, Vicki Robinson, bred by T. Fleming, trained by Noel Geroge & Amanda Zetterholm, ridden by Felix de Giles
The race will be run in 2025 for the 91st time
The 2024 edition
Sunday, April 23, 2023, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - The chase to catch the 17/1 outsider Goa Lil (Samum) in the 2023 edition of the €174,000 Léon Rambaud Hurdle (Gr2) failed by almost three lengths, as the odds-on favourite Thélème (Sidestep) had to settle for second place. The representative of Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm lived on his lead. He had Folsom Prison (No Risk At All) to exit first his comfort zone in the back straight, much sooner than usual for the old-timer earlier than usual. Still, the brave 8-year-old kept a rewarding third place, three lengths from the second and 17 lengths ahead of another fancied runner, AQPS Hermès Baie (Crillon), who ran poorly today.
Bred in the Doubs by Jimmy Detouillon, Goa Lil left France at the end of his 3-year-old year after winning one first flat race, an AQPS event held in Bréhal, for trainer Franck Cheyer. He then passed under the training of Nigel Twiston-Davies, for whom he ran 31 times in the UK before his return to France last September. This was his second victory over French obstacles, his first at Auteuil.
His dam won a race in Maure-de-Bretagne, and his second dam is unraced. After Goa Lil, her first offspring, the dam Unekaina (Lost World) produced a Papal Bull filly who won over the flat and in a hurdle race in the Centre of France, a winner on the Lyon La Soie all-weather, an unraced 3-year-old by Arakan and his own 2-year-old brother.
History
First run in 1930 to honour the memory of a Société des Steeple-Chases de France board member, this race was not held in 1941, 1942, 1944, 1966 or 1969. Its distance has undergone numerous modifications from 1 mile 7 furlongs to 3 miles, and now 2 miles 3 ½ furlongs since 2007.
The race serves as a trial for the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. On 10 occasions, its winner has also triumphed in that year’s Grande Course de Haies: Céréaliste (1936), Les Roseaux (1976), Top Gear (1977), Roselier (1978), Le Rheusois (1985), Claude le Lorrain (1987), Rose or No (1991), Le Sauvignon (2001), Questarabad (2009) and Gemix (2013). One horse has won the Prix Léon Rambaud three years before the Grande Course de Haies, Bog Frog (1994-1997). Only 5 horses have won the Prix Léon Rambaud twice: Malotru (1954, 1955), Royal Chance (1993, 1997) Kimbi (1999, 2002), Questarabad (2009, 2010) and Blue Dragon (2016 and 2017).
Léon Rambaud (1856-1928)
A Société des Steeple-Chases de France board member, he chaired the body for scarcely one year. After being appointed on 15 February 1928, he passed away the following 22 November. Having been a prominent amateur rider in the South-East during his youth, he later became a board member and steward of the Société Sportive de Marseille and the Société des Courses de Nice.
Owners
- Simon Guthmann (2 wins): Roi de Trèfle (1934), Céréaliste (1936).
- Emile Marchand (2 wins): Malotru (1954, 1955).
- Mme Cino Del Duca (2 wins): Grand Hôtel (1970), Imouzer (1972).
- Daniel Wildenstein (2 wins): Yaxilio (1973), Top Gear (1977).
- Peter Baumgartner (2 wins): Kimbi (1999, 2002).
- Sean Mulryan (2 wins): Cyrlight (2005), Mid Dancer (2007)
- Magalen Bryant, David Powell & Denis Baer (2 wins): Blue Dragon (2016, 2017)
Trainers
- Georges Pelat (6 wins): Campeador II (1953), Cupidon III (1956), Taillefer (1958), Gelsemium (1961), Yaxilio (1973), Top Gear (1977).
- Bernard Sécly (4 wins): Rolling Bowl (1982), Isabey (1990), Kimbi (1999, 2002).
- François Nicolle (4 wins) : Alex de Larredya (2018), De Bon Cœur (2019), L'Autonomie (2020, 2021)
- Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé (3 wins): Karly Flight (2003), Cyrlight (2005), Mid Dancer (2007).
- Guy Cherel (3 wins): River Charm (2006), Blue Dragon (2016, 2017).
Riders
- Cyrille Gombeau (4 wins): Lida du Riffray (1996), Royal Chance (1997), Mid Dancer (2007), Nikita du Berlais (2012).
- Roger Duchêne (3 wins): Carnavon (1979), Le Rheusois (1985), Gacko (1986).
- David Cottin (3 wins): Gemix (2013), Blue Dragon (2016, 2017).