Desmond Stoneham

THE 48 hours of jumping this weekend at Auteuil was created as a sort of Arc de Triomphe for this side of the sport but it has not always attracted an international field as most trainers on the other side of the Channel and Irish Sea already have the Cheltenham Festival as their main objective at this stage of the season.

However, Devon-based Nick Williams and Paul Nicholls are on the rampage this weekend with French-bred horses and their main target is this afternoon’s Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne.

Ptit Zig (Nick Scholfield) and Reve De Sivola (Jonathan Plouganou) have already made it at the highest level of French jumping and Aubusson (Lizzie Kelly) was only thwarted by inches when trying to reach the same heights.

The Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig has won a couple of Grade 1 hurdles on previous visits to France.

In 2013, he won the Prix Renaud de Vivier and last June the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil when Aubusson was 10 lengths away fourth. Last November Aubusson this race in the final stride lost to the veteran Irish star Thousand Stars.

Neither Ptit Zig or Aubusson have been out since they clashed in June. The latter is under the care of Williams as is Reve De Sivola who was sixth and behind Aubusson in the Grand Prix a year ago but did win the race in 2013.

The 11-year-old has not appeared since winning a Grade 2 hurdle at Haydock Park last February.

The French will not be pushovers. Since finishing third to Ptit Zig in June, Blue Dragon (James Reveley) has won easily in a small flat race in the provinces so he should be spot on.

There is also a lot of confidence behind the five-year-old Ballotin from the powerful stable of Guillaume Macaire. He won a chase at this track last month but was previously beaten seven lengths by Alex de Larredya who spilt Ptit Zig and Blue Dragon in the Grande Course.

SUNDAY

Williams runs Flying Tiger in the Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres. This three-year-old has won a race in the French provinces and been runner-up in another. Since joining Nicholls’ stable, Dolos has hacked up in a juvenile hurdle at Chepstow. Kalifko and Invicter look the best of the French.

A total of 10 four-year-old chasers turn out for the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois where the best value could be Punch Nantais, Roi Mage and Paulogas who will be one of the most fancied runners.

The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner So French must be respected in the Grade 1 Prix La Haye Jousselin together with stablemate Storm Of Saintly and Milord Thomas.