Troytown Chase: the heat is on

One hundred and seventeen runners, an average of thirteen per race, were declared for Saturday at Auteuil. The two group races of the day, the Troytown Chase (Gr3) and the d'Indy Hurdle (Gr3) brought together eleven and nine runners respectively.

The first is a second step towards the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1). Winner of the Robert de Clermont Tonnerre Chase (Gr3) here on February 24 for the start of the season, Poly Grandchamp (Poliglote) will face On The Go (Kamsin), who fell early in the Tofano Chase last Saturday, and Farnice (Saddler Maker), who fell in the Clermont-Tonnerre Chase last time out as he was trailing the field after a bad start. The La Haye Jousselin Chase (Gr1) second Ebonite (Khalkevi) and the Drags Chase (Gr2) winner Jubilatoire (König Turf), also third in the Georges Courtois Chase (Gr2) last Autumn make their seasonal bow on Saturday along with the promising Edgeoy (Saddler Maker).

The D'Indy Hurdle is a hurdle race for 4-year-olds. The best rating in the race is claimed by For Fun (Motivator), who regularly appeared with the best at 3 but faces new foes here, such as Moises Has (Martaline), also an entire, who won his two last races and will also make his comeback. Winner of the Camille Duboscq Hurdle (L) this winter at Pau, Caroubier (Kap Rock) will try to use that edge against horses who have not run recently.

Also on the card on Saturday, the Rush and Auricula Hurdles races are the first 3-year-old beginners' races over hurdles. These races yet revealed some great jumpers over the years such as Don Lino, Saint Macaire, Esmondo, or more recently Pic d'Orhy.

The meeting will be held behind closed doors, like every race meeting in France until further notice, to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus epidemic.