Start of the season in Auteuil

Auteuil, Monday, 28 February: The obstacle course in Auteuil kicks off the new season today. Among the eight tests is the Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre (6th race/16.45 h/135,000 Euro/4400 m), a Group 3 chasing race for older horses.

Starlet du Mesnil (Bertrand Lestrade) won the Prix Sytaj (Group 3) here on her latest appearance against Hacienda (Kevin Nabet), marking her most valuable score to date. She faces a number of form horses who made their mark in Pau and Cagnes-sur-Mer this year. Above all Happy Monarch (Angelo Zuliani) and Hasard de Brion (Adrien Merienne). The former won the Grand Prix de Pau (Group 3) and relegated the higher rated Eddy de Balme (Gaetan Masure) to third place. The Fertillet protégé was unbeatable in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice (Group 3). Le Mans (Nicolas Gauffenic) won over hurdles on the Riviera. His last appearance over the chasing jumps was in October in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiegne (Group 2), where he finished sixth. Bandero (Thomas Henderson) and Rosario Baron (Romain Jullior) are other promising meeting winners. Carriacou (James Reveley) did not get over the easy jumps in Pau without an accident. Last year he attracted particular attention with his two places of honour in the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Group 1) and in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Group 1), both ahead of Eddy de Balme. Le Listrac (Lucas Zuliani) has so far run at vintage level, but should also play a leading role against the older horses.