PRIX RENAUD DU VIVIER – What a battle between It’s Win O’Clock and Sain d’Esprit !
Press Release Sunday, 16 November, 2025
48H DE L’OBSTACLE – Auteuil
PRIX RENAUD DU VIVIER – GRANDE COURSE DE HAIES DES 4 ANS
What a battle between It’s Win O’Clock and Sain d’Esprit!
The race was strongly run by the unbeaten Illusion Machine (Shalaa) and by Nikkaluokta (Cloth of Stars)… while the three future podium finishers waited at the rear of the field. The eventual winner, It’s Win O’Clock(Ivanhowe), was particularly patient, travelling in second-last position. Down the back straight, James Reveley’s partner swung wide, right along the hedges, entering the race quite late – but once he did, he just kept on moving forward!
As they entered the final bend, the entire field had bunched up, and two horses immediately took a decisive advantage: It’s Win O’Clock, still widest along the stands’ rail, and Sain d’Esprit (Cokoriko) down the centre of the track. The duel between the pair was magnificent, blow for blow. But in the end, the support of the rail proved, as often, the most helpful ally for It’s Win O’Clock, who kept three-quarters of a length ahead of his rival Sain d’Esprit.
Miss Wood (Chœur du Nord) finished a distant third, depriving Illusion Machine of an honourable placing.
Official result
PRIX MAURICE GILLOIS – GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE DES 4 ANS
1st IT’S WIN O’CLOCK (James REVELEY)
2nd SAIN D’ESPRIT (Angelo ZULIANI)
3rd MISS WOOD (Clément LEFEBVRE)
Time: 4'45"09. Margins: 3/4 – 16 – Nose – 1 1/4.
Reactions from the connections
Noel George, trainer of It’s Win O’Clock, 1st (Chantilly, Oise)
“Winning with him is fantastic, all the more because it’s for a wonderful partnership of owners and breeders. He was bought back at the sales, and he’s a real crack. I also want to thank the rider who gets on him every morning — it takes exceptional work with a horse like this.”
François Nicolle, trainer of Sain d’Esprit, 2nd (Royan, Charente-Maritime)
“It’s the mirror image of the previous race… except this time, there aren’t twelve lengths to the winner! The winner is very good, and my horse ran his race. He just made two little errors down the back, but that’s not what cost him the win. They were almost together jumping the last hurdle, and it’s three-quarters of a length at the line. Everything is clear and clean. You’ll see him over fences next year, where he’ll be even better. Now he’s going on holiday.”
Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard, trainer of Miss Wood, 3rd (Montigné-les-Rairies, Maine-et-Loire)
“I’m very happy! We were not among the favourites on paper, but she was perfect. She behaved very well, jumped very well, and showed tremendous courage. She was already black type, but being placed in a Group 1 is really great for her pedigree. I’ve had success with the progeny of her sire Chœur du Nord, and when things go well, you certainly appreciate it! For now, she will have a rest, and we’ll decide later what comes next.”
Photo Credit : Scoop Dyga
