Anne Marie Duff

THERE are two Irish challengers at Auteuil tomorrow with the Gordon Elliott-trained Bayan and the Willie Mullins-trained Gitane Du Berlais set to challenge for the Prix Juigne.

Over two miles and two furlongs, the race is a Grade 3 hurdle contest where 10 are set to line up. The Marc Rolland-trained Lord Prestige is the top-rated and won the race last year. He was only fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Prix D’Autumne behind Zarkandar in November.

Both Irish challengers were victorious in Britain on their last runs. Bayan won the prestigious Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot for the Core Syndicate before Christmas and Gitane Du Berlais (who again receives weight from her rivals) picked up the Grade 1 Sicily Isles Novice Chase at Sandown last month.