Class field in the Prix Juigne

Auteuil, Sunday 6 March: The new season in Auteuil is only a few days old and already the next event follows with the Group 3 and over hurdles Prix Juigne (7th race/17.35/120.000 Euro/3600 m) taking centre stage.

In the eight-strong field, all candidates except Berjou (Nathalie Desoutter) are competing for the first time this year. The protégé of David Windrif made his seasonal debut in Pau and promptly won the Grande Course de Haies (Listed race) as an outsider. Two horses with good chances are Theleme (Pierre Dubourg) and Hermes Baie (Bertrand Lestrade), who are among the protagonists in the vintage. The latter won two Group 2 races here in late summer, each against Theleme, who before the break, favoured by Hermes Baie`s retirement, pinned the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Group 1) and a year before that the Grande Course de Haies des 3 Ans (Group 1) to his banner. Porto Pollo (Gaetan Masure) and Gex (James Reveley) ended last year with two wins apiece and are as highly rated as Belle Promesse (Theo Chevillard) and Colbert du Berlais (Ludovic Philipperon), who finished second in their most recent appearances. Galop Marin (Morgan Regairaz), who stands above the field by win total, is recommended by his November triumph in the Grand Prix d`Automne (Group 1).