Saturday: a VERY Great Hurdle Race at Auteuil
This Saturday, Auteuil will reconnect with what it does best: delivering a great day of sport, spectacle and emotion, in that unique blend of prestige, thrills and closeness that makes the temple of jumping so special. And the card looks particularly appealing, headlined by the Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, which will bring together some of the best hurdlers in Europe, including a much-anticipated clash between the two titans of recent years: Losange Bleu (the defending champion) and Thélème… without forgetting the others!
The start of this major event, run over the (deliberately) very demanding 5,100 metres of the Butte Mortemart, will be given at 4.25pm. It is a mythical and testing race that requires speed, stamina, courage… and the true heart of a champion. Once again this year, the line-up is outstanding. Racegoers will notably be able to cheer on the magnificent Losange Bleu, who has become one of Auteuil’s most popular horses over the seasons, as well as the champion Thélème, hero of so many great battles, and the dangerous British and Irish challengers Henri The Second and Home By The Lee, both well known to fans of major international meetings. With eleven high-class runners declared, this Grande Course de Haies promises a rare and intense spectacle, where every obstacle could change the story of the race.
Time for the youngsters!
Before this sporting highlight, the day will begin at 1.23pm with the Prix Djarvis, a steeplechase for 4-year-old AQPS horses over 4,400m. It is always a fascinating contest to follow as it often reveals the future stars of French jumping racing. Between the runners from the powerful Lageneste & Macaire yard, the representatives of Emmanuel Clayeux and several still-developing but highly promising profiles, this race will set the tone for a meeting very much focused on the future.
At 1.58pm, the spotlight turns to the younger generation with the Prix Sagan (Gr3), reserved for 3-year-old fillies over hurdles. This race bears the name of an Auteuil legend and regularly unveils future champions. The best young fillies of their generation will line up, trained by obstacle specialists such as Marcel Rolland, Mickaël Seror and Lageneste & Macaire. Everything points towards a fast and spectacular contest, where raw class is often combined with the learning process.
Wide-open handicaps
The afternoon will then continue with several particularly competitive handicaps, always popular with punters. The Prix Regalia at 2.33pm, followed by the Prix Le Parisien – Prix Le Guales de Mézaubran at 3.15pm, will offer large fields and scenarios often full of twists and turns. At 3.50pm, the Prix Ex Voto will take centre stage before the feature event at 4.25pm. And the action will not stop there. The Prix Pretentaine at 5pm and the Prix Saint-Sauveur at 5.35pm will bring this high-quality card to a close. The Saint-Sauveur in particular, with its steeple specialists and demanding 4,400m trip, remains a favourite among Auteuil regulars.
A fully immersive experience!
Beyond the racing itself, coming to Auteuil on a Group 1 Saturday means enjoying a complete experience: hearing the grandstands come alive approaching the final bend, watching the horses soar over the obstacles, feeling the tension rise before the start, sharing lunch on the terrace or a bet with friends… Auteuil has that special atmosphere, both family-friendly and spectacular, where the great champions always seem a little closer than anywhere else.
This Saturday, all the ingredients are in place for a great day at the races. Sunshine is forecast, top-class sport, champions, rising stars and one of the finest theatres of European jumping racing: it is hard to imagine a better programme for spending your Saturday at Auteuil.