Prix Renaud du Vivier - James Reveley's incredible Sunday

What a Sunday for James Reveley! The British-born jockey, who has been based in France since 2015, won three of the four Group 1 races staged on the second day of the 48 Hours of Jump Racing. His third victory came aboard Guadalquivir in the Prix Renaud du Vivier. This remarkable treble comes shortly after James Reveley announced that he would take up training in January 2027, in partnership with Marine Pineda. From then on, he is expected to ride only very occasionally. In all likelihood, this was therefore his final appearance at the 48 Hours of Jump Racing.

Guadalquivir started as favourite for this prestigious championship hurdle race for four-year-olds and fully justified that status by making the running. Although Delmegan attempted to challenge him after the final hurdle, Guadalquivir had already established a decisive lead. Its Now completed the podium.

The colt, who remains entire, gave his trainers, Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, based at Avilly-Saint-Léonard on the outskirts of Chantilly, their second Group 1 victory of the day. He is jointly owned by his three breeders: Haras d'Etreham, the Chambure family's stud farm based in the Bessin region of Normandy; Haras du Saubouas, owned by Paul Basquin and located in the Gers department; and Mathieu Daguzan-Garros, who runs Haras des Granges, also based in the Gers. In due course, Guadalquivir is destined to retire to stud as a stallion.

Official result

1st GUADALQUIVIR (J. Reveley)

2nd DELMEGAN (K. Nabet)

3rd ITS NOW (L. Zuliani)

Winning margins: 5 lengths, 8 lengths.

Reactions from the connections

Noël George, co-trainer of Guadalquivir (1st), based at the Chantilly training centre (Oise)

“Going into the final bend, I was confident. Admittedly, he tired a little after the last hurdle, but he is a genuinely talented horse. And Delmegan is a very good mare too. Guadalquivir has matured. He can maintain a strong pace on heavy ground, and I think he really puts his rivals under pressure when a race unfolds like that.”

Élisabeth Allaire, trainer of Delmegan (2nd), based at Crèvecœur-en-Auge (Calvados)

“I'm crying, but they are tears of joy, of course! She has been absolutely faultless. Once again today, she produced an incredible late rally. She's a star! Naturally, I was a little worried early on because she wasn't travelling well at all and didn't get off to a good start. But I had explained to her jockey, Kévin (Nabet), that with her, you really have to make it a true test of stamina. He trusted me, he trusted the mare, and once again she produced an exceptional effort. There is absolutely nothing to criticise about her performance. She will now embark on what promises to be a wonderful career as a broodmare. She has given me so many wonderful memories. She is a very intelligent mare, and that is also one of her greatest strengths.”

Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard, trainer of It’s Now (3rd), based at Baugé-en-Anjou (Maine-et-Loire)

“I'm not surprised, to be honest. It’s Now is a fantastic horse, and we have always thought very highly of him. Yet we had the worst possible preparation. But he is a very good horse with a tremendous engine. He was nowhere near fully fit today, perhaps only 75 or 80% ready, and despite that he produced a superb performance. His jockey gave him an excellent ride, and there is nothing to fault there. It is nevertheless very frustrating to arrive at a Group 1 race in these circumstances. We would have liked to prepare him exactly as we wanted, but that simply wasn't possible.”