Review of the leading steeplechasers

Review of the leading steeplechasers

The build-up races to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) continue on Saturday with the Prix Troytown – Grand Steeple Masters (Gr3). The road to France’s most prestigious steeplechase is busy, with five possible trials on the programme. As a result, the champions tend to avoid each other until the big day, keeping the suspense very much alive.

Six runners are set to line up in the Prix Troytown, including the winner of the Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre and his runner-up, Kilomètre Illimité and Crown du Berlais. Both are proven in testing ground and will have to cope with a faster surface this time. However, they are highly talented and their rematch promises to be an exciting one. In Love and Kentucky Wood are reliable performers at this level, while Secret d’État faces a serious test in this company.

Saturday’s Auteuil card will offer a genuine roll call of talent, featuring some of the best established steeplechasers alongside the leading four-year-olds. In the Prix Duc d’Anjou (Gr3), the top four-year-olds over the larger obstacles will begin their preparation for the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1). Unbeaten in three starts over fences and winner of the leading race for young steeplechasers, the Prix Congress (Gr2), Nador will make his seasonal reappearance. He will again meet his Congress runner-up Duc de Roche, as well as the Pau hero Inlandsis, winner of the Prix Antoine de Palaminy (L).