Top four-year-old hurdlers set for Auteuil on Saturday

Auteuil stages a high-class card on Saturday, with the Prix de Maisons-Laffitte (Group 3) taking centre stage. The race is the first major trial for the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Group 1), the championship hurdle for four-year-olds, which will be run on 15 November.

Delmegan, Léopard du Berlais and Maharaja, who finished second, third and fifth respectively in the Prix Alain du Breil (Group 1) – the spring championship for four-year-old hurdlers – are all set to line up in Saturday’s Group 3.

There was little between Delmegan and Léopard du Berlais in the spring and the pair could be set for another thrilling battle. Delmegan will have Gabin Meunier in the saddle this time and receives three kilos from Léopard du Berlais.

But they are far from the only leading contenders. Maharaja won the Prix Questarabad (Group 3) earlier this year, while Olga de Kiev, so impressive as a three-year-old, makes her eagerly awaited return. Its Now is another high-class performer returning to action, while Guadalquivir could prove an even greater threat with softer ground in his favour.