The Grade One Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (2.15) is the headline act of today’s action at the French track and it is yet another example of the rude health the Irish National Hunt scene is currently experiencing.
The top three in the market for a high-profile event dishing out €180,000 to the winner are all trained on this island with Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point set to go off a hot favourite.
The six-year-old grey found only the brilliant State Man too good in the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown and this stamina test should be more to his liking.
He is massively stepped up in trip this time around over nearly 3m2f and that should play to his strengths with Mark Walsh deputising for the injured Jack Kennedy, who was crowned Irish champion jockey for the first time a fortnight ago.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s jumps or Flat, Joseph O’Brien seems to be able to bang in the winners in and the Kilkenny trainer is represented here via Home By The Lee.
The nine-year-old put up respectable efforts when third behind Teahupoo in the Stayers’ Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown as JJ Slevin bids to cap a stellar few months in style.
It’s hard to make a case for the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Incredible (Brian Hayes) or John McConnell’s Mahler Mission (Ben Harvey) while heavy going could spoil Hewick’s hopes.
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s stable star returns to the smaller obstacles having finished fourth in this race 12 months ago but demanding conditions will make it very tough for Jordan Gainford’s mount – a common theme this season outside of his famous King George VI triumph.
Irish Point has a lot in his favour, though, and he can add his name to the staying hurdler candidates for next season with a polished display.
It is also a huge weekend for Tipperary trainer Philip Fenton as he bids to get back into the big time with Karl Des Tourelles tackling tomorrow’s Grade One Prix Alain du Breil (4.55) on a stellar card at Auteuil.
Last seen when seventh behind Kargese in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival a fortnight ago, Hayes’ amount must improve on that showing to leave any mark.
The Carrick-on-Suir handler expects his juvenile hurdler to relish the testing ground with another trip to France possibly in the offing down the line but any impression on the top three would be a viewed as a big achievement.
“It is guaranteed they will water it some bit and the forecast is for rain to fall so we’re hoping some arrives,” Fenton said this week.
“We’re not going over with our chests out, but if we can run a reasonable race we’d be happy. If he gets experience, who knows, he could go back there again.”