Auteuil Sunday

3.25 Prix Des Drags (Chase) (Grade 2) (5yo+) €220,000 2m 6f

Baie Des Iles won this prestigious prize for Ross O’Sullivan last year but she has completed just once in three subsequent starts, for a distant second over an inadequate two miles at Naas four months ago.

Of Willie Mullins’s two runners, it’s anyone’s guess how well the dual Irish Grand National bridesmaid Isleofhopendreams will adapt to Auteuil’s fences at the age of 12 but there are reasons for optimism about the chances of Total Recall, who ran quite well when eighth in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris here three weeks ago and may be suited by this drop back in trip.

The most likely winner is Louisa Carberry’s Docteur De Ballon, still travelling alright when coming down five out in the Grand Steep’.

SELECTION: DOCTEUR DE BALLON

Next best: Total Recall

4.32 Prix La Barka (Hurdle) (Grade 2) (5yo+) €165,000 2m 3f 110y

Willie Mullins supplies over half of the nine-strong field for this Grade 2 hurdle, which he has won five times in the last seven years including its last three renewals.

His number one candidate is the course specialist, Bapaume, a six-length winner of this 12 months ago and beaten less than 10 lengths when fourth in last month’s Grande Course de Haies.

Stablemate Mr Adjudicator, four and a half lengths further back when seventh in the Grande Course, reopposes, while the Closutton raiding party is completed by the talented chasing mare Pravalaguna; Stormy Ireland, runner-up in Grade 1 mares hurdles at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals; and Quick Grabim, winner of a Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle back in early December.

The French haven’t successfully defended this prize since 2011. Their two main hopes of ending that losing sequence are Blue Dragon, a former champion four-year-old who has recently joined the yard of David Cottin, and Jazz In Montreux, who hinted at a return to his best when landing a listed contest at Compiegne last month.

SELECTION: BAPAUME

Next best: Stormy Ireland

Mullins is represented by French Made in the €120,000 Grade 3 Prix Questarabad (2m 3f 110y) for four-year-olds.

Look out also for the recent J.P. McManus acquisition, the unbeaten Guillaume Macaire-trained Hipsters, in the €120,000 Grade 3 Prix Aguado (2m 1f 110y) for three-year-olds.