Desmond Stoneham
WILLIE Mullins is back for another tilt at the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) tomorrow afternoon.
He has captured the €166,500 race on four previous occasions, starting in 2003, and this time relies on Shaneshill and stable jockey Ruby Walsh.
The English, who are on a hat-trick of victories in the three-mile, half a furlong contest, field last year’s winner Ptit Zig (Sam Twiston Davies) from the stable of Paul Nicholls.
Lambourn trainers are well represented as Nicky Henderson saddles L’Ami Serge (Daryl Jacob) and Warren Greatrex runs One Track Mind with Gavin Sheehan on board. It will not be a walkover for the visitors with top hurdlers like Blue Dragon and Alex De Larredya in the field of 10.
Shaneshill came to Auteuil last month and ran on bravely to beat L’Ami Serge (gave 41/2lb) by three-quarters of a length in the Prix La Barka but that was over a shorter two-mile, five and a half furlongs and the weights are level on this occasion.
Further behind in the same race came Alex De Larredya, Yoko, Bosseur (clumsy two out) and Capivari. They all take up the challenge again.
Since winning the race a year ago, Ptit Zig has not been in the winner’s enclosure but he went under by just a length and a half to L’Ami Serge (rec 8lb) in the shorter bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown Park in April.
One Track Mind will be making his debut in France. He won the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown last year and finished ahead of Shaneshill in the race same race in April when making his 2017 debut.
Alex De Larredya was runner-up and Blue Dragon third to Ptit Zig in the Grande Course a year ago. The latter was recently a very impressive winner of the Grade 2 Prix Leon Rambaud but over a shorter trip.
Alex de Larredya took his revenge over Ptit Zig in the Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne last November but has taken a little time to engage top gear this season having been behind Blue Dragon, Shaneshill and L’Ami Serge in earlier races.
PRIX ALAIN DU BREIL
Mullins runs Dandy Mag (Paul Townend) and Bapaume (Ruby Walsh) in the Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breil, which he took last year with Footpad and in 2013 with Diakali.
There are some very smart domestic runners in this four-year-old hurdle and they include Prince Ali and De Bon Coeur. Both the Mullins horses are in great form and Bapaume has already won at Grade 1 level in the AES Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Dandy Mag was well beaten by his stablemate in that race but has since won the Sheridan Electric Hurdle at Ballinrobe with something in hand after a mistake at the last.
Prince Ali landed a hat-trick when he took the Prix Questarabad and he should again finish ahead of Titi De Montmartre.
De Bon Coeur is unbeaten in six races and never really been put under pressure. When last seen, he won the Grade 2 Prix Amadou with champion jockey James Reveley, who is again in the saddle.
AUTEUIL - SUNDAY
Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil
Selection: ALEX DE LARREDYA
Next Best: Shaneshill
Prix Alain du Breil
Selection: DE BON COEUR
Next best: Bapaume