French Champion Hurdle

[Forced Kin]

A very lucky bunch of owners ...Thousand Stars and Quevega

Stable companions Thousand Stars and Zaidpour will renew rivalries in the French Champion Hurdle next month after occupying the first two places in Sunday's Prix La Barka at Auteuil.

Thousand Stars had filled the runner-up spot in the Grade Two contest 12 months ago before going on to land the Grande Course De Haies D'Auteuil, and is now set to defend his crown after going one place better in the recognised trial under Paul Townend.

Zaidpour, who chased home another esteemed stablemate in Hurricane Fly in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, ran a fine race to take the runner-up spot in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "He (Thousand Stars) is some star all right!

"It was another very good performance from him and the plan would definitely to go back to France with him next month.

"I thought Zaidpour ran a very good trial and I would expect plenty of improvement from him for his next run. He'll be going back to France as well."

Walsh will now have to decide which horse to ride when the pair lock horns again in France.

Mullins said: "I'd imagine he will (have a difficult decision to make). Let's just hope both horses stay fit and well."

[Yeehaa]

Entries/Decs

1 cape tribulation gb h.ps. 8 a. 68 J.DAVID ABELL JM. JEFFERSON
2 madox h.ps. 8 a. 68 MME MAGALEN BRYANT J. BERTRAN DE BALANDA
3 saint du chenet h.ps. 6 a. 68 MME MAGALEN BRYANT MARC. ROLLAND
4 diamant de beaufai h.ps. 6 a. 68 MLLE HELENE DICHAMP MLLE ML. MORTIER
5 saphir river h.ps. 6 a. 68 FAT GARY SPORTS M. SCUDAMORE
6 thousand stars h.ps. 8 a. 68 HAMMER/TROWEL SYNDICATE WP. MULLINS
7 zaidpour h.ps. 6 a. 68 MME S. RICCI WP. MULLINS
8 mourad ire h.ps. 7 a. 68 TEAHON CONSULTING LIMITED WP. MULLINS
9 lamego h.ps. 5 a. 66 MME PATRICIA BUTEL MME P. BUTEL
10 formosa joana has f.ps. 7 a. 66 SCEA HAMEL STUD JP. GALLORINI
11 sleeping mat h.ps. 5 a. 66 MME PATRICK PAPOT PH. PELTIER
12 pierrot bay h.ps. 5 a. 66 FABRICE SIMON T. TRAPENARD
13 tarabel f.ps. 5 a. 64 JEAN-CLAUDE NORBERT BIGNON MLLE ML. MORTIER
14 tanais du chenet f.ps. 5 a. 64 MME MAGALEN BRYANT MARC. ROLLAND
15 nikita du berlais f.ps. 5 a. 64 JEAN-MARC LUCAS R. COLLET
16 tidara angel ire f.ps. 5 a. 64 G. MOLLIER/DH. DUBOIS D. WINDRIF

[Yeehaa]

Winners 2002-2011

2002 Laveron 7 Thierry Doumen François Doumen Dirk Grauert
2003 Nobody Told Me 5 David Casey Willie Mullins Amber Syndicate
2004 Rule Supreme 8 David Casey Willie Mullins John J. Fallon
2005 Lycaon de Vauzelle 6 Boris Chameraud J. Bertran de Balanda Francis Wintz
2006 Mid Dancer 5 Christophe Pieux Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé Sean Mulryan
2007 Zaiyad 6 Jacques Ricou Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé Sean Mulryan
2008 Oeil du Maitre 6 Steven Colas Jean-Paul Gallorini Alexandrine Berger
2009 Questarabad 5 Regis Schmidlin Marcel Rolland Mrs Roger Polani
2010 Mandali 6 Christophe Soumillon Jean-Paul Gallorini Ecurie Zingaro
2011 Thousand Stars 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Hammer & Trowel Syndicate

[Yeehaa]

Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. Auteuil. (Hurdles, 5 year-olds and over, Group I, 3 miles 1 ½ furlongs, 370,000 Euros).

This event was first held at Auteuil on 25 May 1874, on the same day as the "Grand National de France" which, two years later, would adopt the new title of Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Like the latter event, it will be run for the 134th time in 2012, having not been held from 1915 to 1918 or in 1940.



In 1882, the Grand Steeple parted company with the Grande Course de Haies. While the former was kept on the last Sunday in May, the latter was given the benefit of a fully-fledged day the following Wednesday. 1883’s introduction of the Prix des Drags run two days later on the Friday completed the creation of the "Grande Semaine d'Auteuil" desired by the Prince de Sagan, the racecourse’s founder in 1873 and chairman of the Société des Steeple-Chases de France from 1873 to 1897. This " Grande Semaine " where elegance reigned was brought to an end by the events of 1968.



A brief history.
Originally, the Grande Course de Haies was open to horses aged 4 and over. The 4,000-metre distance was raised to 2 ½ miles in 1875, then to 3 miles 1 furlong in 1880. In 1969, it was extended to 3 miles 1 ½ furlongs. From 1975 to 1978, it was cut to 2 miles 4 ½ furlongs, before being restored to 3 miles 1 ½ furlongs in 1979. In 1961, 4 year-olds were excluded and a new race aimed at them was created (see Prix Alain du Breil and Prix Renaud du Vivier). Run in handicap form until 1889, it then became a weights for age race. From its creation until 1883, horses ridden by amateur riders benefited from an allowance of four pounds. From 1883, a handicap of 6 kilos was imposed on the winners of certain big events. Gradually reduced to 3 kilos, it was retained until 1969.



The first running (2 ½ miles, 5,000 F plus entry fees, equal to 11,300 F), contested in the form of a handicap, brought together fourteen starters, two of which had unsuccessfully taken part in the Grand National de France an hour earlier. The public shunned the three most heavily handicapped competitors, opting instead for three English entrants, Jackal (72 kilos), Sir John (70.5 kilos) and Duke of Cambridge (66.5 kilos). And to general delight, they returned their faith by taking the first three places in that order! Le Sport reported only that the two British victories (Miss Hungerford had triumphed in the Grand National de France) "were greeted by warm applause"! Jackal was both trained and ridden by twenty-three year-old Richard Marsh, who would go on to win this Grande Course de Haies twice more as a trainer of two visitors sporting the colours of the Duc de Hamilton, Marc Antony (1882) and Jannock (1886). Later, Richard Marsh was chosen to train the horses of the Prince of Wales, in which capacity he prepared three royal horses for victory in the English Derby at Epsom: Persimmon (1896), Diamond Jubilee (1900) and Minoru (1909) and Jeddah (1898).



The British contingent dominated the Grande Course de Haies for the first ten years, recording six triumphs in all courtesy of Jackal (1874), Miss Lizzie (1877), Paul's Cray (1879), Seaman (1881), Marc Antony (1882) and Beatus (1883). Subsequently, their rate of success dwindled somewhat, to only seven wins between 1884 and 1914 (thirty-one years): Jannock (1886), Aladdin (1888), Count Schomberg (1896), Soliman (1897), General Peace (1900), Karakoul (1905) and Balscadden (1912). Between the two World Wars, their sole success was that of Saint Tudwal (1919). Since then, foreign competitors have been thin on the ground and, up until 2002, they recorded just two further success: that of the Italian Nigra (1949) and Ireland’s Dawn Run (1984). In view of this record, it was a great surprise when, in 2003, Ireland’s Nobody Told Me (31/1) managed to outstrip the favourite Karly Flight (2/10). Another of Willie Mullins’ protégés, Rule Supreme, made it two consecutive wins for the Emerald Isle in 2004, before just failing to repeat his success in 2005 behind Lycaon de Vauzelle.



In 1902, the British entrant Mr Quilp was disqualified purely and simply for having “cut up" his French opponent Bébé, who was awarded the win. In 1938, Porthos ridden by Noël Pelat was demoted to third place “for having obstructed Evohé II and Baron d'Urfé on several occasions.”



The double has been done seven times, by Evohé II (1937, 1938), Wild Risk (1944, 1945), Hardatit (1972, 1973), Paiute (1979, 1980), Le Rheusois (1985, 1986), Ubu III (1992, 1993) and Le Sauvignon (2000, 2001).



In 1947, the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil was won by ten lengths by the 5 year-old Le Paillon who, on the flat, would go on to triumph in the Grand Prix de Deauville in August and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

In 2010, the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil was won by Mandali, wearing the colours of the Ecurie Zingaro and ridden by Christophe Soumillon – a successful flat jockey. This was only the second time that Soumillon had competed in a jumps race.



The Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.
Only three horses have managed to win both these races, their win over the hurdles preceding that in Auteuil’s flagship steeplechase. They are Blagueur II (1910-1911), Loreto (1958-1963) and Ubu III (1992, 1993-1995). Princesse D’Anjou did come close in 2006, however, finishing 2nd in the Grande Course de Haies just two lengths behind Mid Dancer and winning the Grand Steeple. Mid Dancer also triumphed in the 2007 and 2011 Grand Steeple but was beaten into second place in the 2008 Grande Course de Haies by Oeil de Maitre.



Owners.
The record of six wins is held by Daniel Wildenstein: Gopal (1969), Top Gear (1977), Paiute (1979, 1980), World Citizen (1982) and Vaporetto (1999).



Next come:
5 Arthur Veil-Picard: Blagueur II (1910), Don Zuniga (1928), Le Bouif (1930), Baoulé (1931) and Lands End (1933).
3 Georges Ledat: Saint Claude (1890), Augure (1891) and Charlatan (1895).
2 Maurice Walter: Borély (1875) and Vichnou (1876).
2 Henri Hawes: Patriarche (1878) and Kersage (1887).
2 Duc de Hamilton: Marc Antony (1882) and Jannock (1886).
2 Jean Boussod: Grandlieu (1898) and Kerym (1899).
2 G.A. Prentice: General Peace (1900) and Karakoul (1905).
2 Antony Vidal: Evohé II (1937, 1938).
2 Marquis de Triquerville: Wild Risk (1944, 1945).
2 Gustave Beauvois: Verdi (1951) and Prince Hindou (1952).
2 Noël Biron: Ouf (1963) and Rivoli (1967).
2 Mme Hubert Seutet: Pansa (1966) and Samour (1970).
2 Charles Sweeny: Hardatit (1972, 1973).
2 Francis Wintz: Mélinoir (1983) and Lycaon de Vauzelle (2005).
2 Claude Ouyoucef: Le Rheusois (1985, 1986).
2 Marquise de Moratalla: Ubu III (1992, 1993).
2 David J. Jackson: Le Sauvignon (2000, 2001).
2 Sean Mulryan: Mid Dancer (2006) and Zaiyad (2007).



One particularly noteworthy victory came in 1906 courtesy of Fragilité, who was owned, ridden and trained by Percy Woodland!.



Trainers.
William Head holds the record with eight wins: Evohé II (1937, 1938), Royal Kidney (1939), Ludovic le More (1943), Vatelys (1946), Le Paillon (1947), Septième Ciel (1948) and Friendship (1959).



Next come:
5 Georges Pelat: Ouf (1963), Santo Pietro (1964), Rivoli (1967), Top Gear (1977) and Paiute (1979).
4 Wallace Davis: Blagueur II (1910), Don Zuniga (1928), Le Bouif (1930) and Baoulé (1931).
4 Henri Gleizes: Verdi (1951), Prince Hindou (1952), Frascati (1953) and Elégant (1955).
4 André Adèle: Miror (1962), Orvilliers (1968), Baby Taine (1974) and Mazel Tov (1975).
4 Jean-Paul Gallorini: Goodea (1988), Vaporetto (1999), Œil du Maître (2008) and Mandali (2010).
3 Richard Marsh: Jackal (1874), Marc Antony (1882) and Jannock (1886).
3 Patrick Rago: World Citizen (1982) and Le Rheusois (1985, 1986).
3 Jean-Paul Gallorini: Goodea (1988), Vaporetto (1999) and Oeil de Maitre (2008).
3 François Doumen: Ubu III (1992, 1993) and Laveron (2002).
3 Jehan Bertran de Balanda: Le Sauvignon (2000, 2001) and Lycaon de Vauzelle (2005).
3 Willie-P. Mullins: Nobody Told Me (2003), Rule Supreme (2004) and Thousand Stars (2011)

[Yeehaa]

2011 Result and video

http://www.equidiavideo.com/Races/HAIES-D-AUTEUIL2

[Forced Kin]

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson has confirmed Cape Tribulation on target for Sunday's French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil.
The eight-year-old won valuable handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals this spring, and was last seen finishing sixth on the Flat at York's Dante meeting.
He will step up in grade this weekend to tackle a strong field in France, with perhaps his biggest threats hailing from the Willie Mullins yard, including last year's winner, Thousand Stars.
"He's an intended runner at the moment. He looks great and he's in great form," said Jefferson.
"He ran well enough at York, but I think it would have been better for him if it had been a week earlier as he would have preferred softer ground. I also think he's a horse who is better for knowing and if Jimmy (Fortune) had ridden him before he might have run a bit better.
"He's been in great form since then and I think the ground is soft to heavy in France, so he'll be happy enough on that. It's worth having a go for the sort of money that's being put up. We'll give it a go and then after Sunday he'll have a break."
Jefferson is also considering sending his charge back over fences later in the year.
The handler added: "I'll have a chat with the owner, but it's in the back of my mind that he could go back chasing in the autumn. With his rating over hurdles, he'd end up running up the backside of Big Buck's and I don't see much point in doing that. He could start off in something like the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as there won't be many runners."
Thousand Stars is, along with Zaidpour and Mourad, one of three Mullins-trained entries in Sunday's Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil.
Sixteen contenders have stood their ground following the latest forfeit stage, including the Michael Scudamore-trained Saphir River.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Willie Mullins has confirmed that he will launch a five-pronged assault on Auteuil this Sunday, with the 2011 French Champion Hurdle hero Thousand Stars one of three set to represent the champion trainer in this year's feature.

Passed over by Ruby Walsh in favour of Zaidpour before readily denying his stablemate in the Prix La Barka at the Parisian venue three weeks ago, Thousand Stars will again be joined by Zaidpour in Sunday's Grade One.

Mourad, well held behind the durable grey that day but fourth to him in last year's Champion Hurdle -- known locally as the Grand Course De Haies D'Auteuil -- will be the Closutton stable's third runner.

While Mullins said yesterday that riding plans for the trio have yet to be finalised, he didn't discount Zaidpour's prospects of turning the form around in the three-mile-one-and-a-half-furlong showpiece, which boasts a first prize of €166,500 that he has won three times in all.

Six lengths clear of Thousand Stars when second to Hurricane Fly at the Punchestown Festival, Zaidpour was sent off favourite to reaffirm that superiority at Auteuil in May.

"Thousand Stars jumps those French hurdles very well, and I think his experience told in the Barka," Mullins suggested about a result he admitted was somewhat unexpected.

"Zaidpour just didn't jump well enough on the day, so that experience will stand to him on Sunday. As well as that, the Barka is over a trip (two miles, five and a half furlongs) that suits Thousand Stars well, and I think the longer trip will help Zaidpour.

"However, he will meet Thousand Stars on six-pound worse terms this time, so that is another factor to consider."

[mayo]

Thousand Stars will have Ruby Walsh in the plate as the Willie Mullins-trained grey bids to defend his crown in tomorrow's French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil.

The eight-year-old -- which grabbed his first Grade One prize in this extended three-mile-one-furlong contest 12 months ago -- had Paul Townend up when winning last month's recognised trial, the Prix La Barka.

On that occasion, Walsh was aboard stable companion Zaidpour, which finished well to take second spot; now Townend will swap mounts with the former champion jockey.

Walsh's sister Katie takes the ride on Mullins' third runner, Mourad.

"All of them are in good order and hopefully Thousand Stars and Zaidpour will run the same race as they did the last day," said the Closutton handler.

"It was Zaidpour's first run in France, so you'd like to think he'd have learnt from it. I probably would be surprised if Zaidpour beat Thousand Stars, though. I don't think Zaidpour showed himself off the last day and hopefully he'll do it this time.

"Thousand Stars is such a professional around there and he should run very well, but it's not an easy race. I'm told two of the French fillies are very good, Nikita Du Berlais and Formosa Joana Has. They'll be hard to beat."

The Robert Collet-trained Nikita Du Berlais beat Formosa Joana Has in April's Prix Leon Rambaud to secure her seventh consecutive victory, but the mare does have to prove her stamina.

The other Grade One on the card is the Prix Alain Du Breil for four-year-olds, which has attracted four Irish raiders, headed by Dermot Weld's Punchestown winner Hisaabaat. The Mullins-trained Ut De Sivola succumbed by just half a length to Hisaabaat in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle and is joined by stablemate Loch Ard.

[mayo]

Trainer Willie Mullins is optimistic Thousand Stars can successfully defend his crown in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on Sunday.
The eight-year-old grabbed his first Grade One prize in this extended three-mile-one-furlong contest 12 months ago and returns at the top of his game having won last month's recognised trial, the Prix La Barka.
Stable companion Zaidpour finished well to take second second spot in that Grade Two affair, and renews rivalry. Ruby Walsh has switched from Zaidpour to Thousand Stars, with Paul Townend going in the other direction. Katie Walsh takes the ride on Mullins' third runner, Mourad.
"All of them are in good order and hopefully Thousand Stars and Zaidpour will run the same race as they did the last day," said Mullins.
"It was Zaidpour's first run in France last time, so you'd like to think he'd have learnt from it and hopefully the longer trip can bring out a bit of improvement in him. I probably would be surprised if Zaidpour beat Thousand Stars, though.
"I don't think Zaidpour showed himself off the last day and hopefully he'll do it this time. Thousand Stars is such a professional around there and he should run very well, but it's not an easy race.
"I'm told two of the French fillies are very good, Nikita Du Berlais and Formosa Joana Has. They didn't run in the trial we ran in to be kept fresh for this, so maybe they'll be hard to beat. Mourad is an outsider. He got place money last year and I suppose that is the best we can hope for again."
The Robert Collet-trained Nikita Du Berlais beat Formosa Joana Has in April's Prix Leon Rambaud to secure her seventh consecutive victory.
Collet said: "She's in great form and is working very well. She has never run this far and we will see what happens. The rider, Cyrille Gombeau, is very optimistic."

[Yeehaa]

Willie Mullins, whose domination of Irish National Hunt racing last season was all but absolute, added another £140,000 to his prize-money total for the year when Thousand Stars retained the Grand Course de Haies D'Auteuil in Paris on Sunday.

The three-mile one-furlong Grade One contest is generally seen as France's equivalent of the Champion Hurdle, and Thousand Stars, the 15-8 favourite, comfortably saw off the home challenge, quickening clear of Nikita Du Berlais in the closing stages under Ruby Walsh. "He's an iron horse," Mullins said.

"He's just too tough and it's amazing how he's raced from the Morgiana [Hurdle at Punchestown in November] up to today and not missed a Festival.

"He pulled out as fresh as paint today. To win a race like this two years in a row is just fantastic. He seems to love this track and these hurdles suit him."

Mullins also sent out Mourad and Zaidpour to finish fourth and fifth respectively, while Cape Tribulation, trained in Britain by Malcolm Jefferson, was prominent in the early stages but faded once the race started in earnest.

[Yeehaa]

housand Stars completed a big-race double in France with a fluent success in the Grande Course De Haies D'Auteuil.

The race, better known as the French Champion Hurdle, went to the gallant grey for the second season running and added to his victory last time out in the Prix La Barka.

The race was set up by Sleeping Mat, who went on early and was still in front coming to the final flight, albeit under strong pressure from his jockey David Berra

But sadly he made a bad mistake at the obstacle and appeared to suffer a serious injury, quickly being pulled up as the remaining combatants headed for the line.

And it was Ruby Walsh's mount who found plenty after jumping the last to beat Nikita Du Berlais and end the strongly-fancied home challenger's unbeaten record.

Formosa Joana Mas took third ahead of the staying-on Mourad and Zaidpour, the other two raiders from the Willie Mullins yard.

British runner Cape Tribulation, a winner at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, finished well behind under Denis O'Regan.

Mullins said: "He's an iron horse. He's just too tough and it's amazing how he's raced from the Morgiana (at Punchestown in November) up to today and not missed a Festival.

"He pulled out as fresh as paint today. He's so tough. To win a race like this two years in a row is just fantastic. He seems to love this track and these hurdles suit him."

The County Carlow trainer was also happy with the performance of his two other runners.

"Mourad stayed on great and Zaidpour jumped a lot better. He got a bit tired in the closing stages, but for him I'm still happy he ran a great race at this end of the season," he added.

[Yeehaa]

GALLOPING grey Thousand Stars once again showed his liking for Auteuil yesterday when landing the French Champion Hurdle for the second year running under Ruby Walsh.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old stormed past leading French hope Nikita Du Berlais after jumping the last to win cosily.

Settled in mid-division, Walsh took his time through the early stages on the 15/8 favourite as first Tanais Du Chenet, and then more alarmingly Sleeping Mat, established big leads over the field.

Turning for home Sleeping Mat still had a decent advantage over the chasing pack, which had been whittled down to Nikita Du Berlais, Formosa Joana Has and the Mullins-trained trio of Zaidpour, Mourad and the eventual winner.

Jumping two out, the pursuers began to close and Sleeping Mat had been caught before jumping the last. In the air at the same time, Nikita Du Berlais and Thousand Stars looked ready to fight it out, but just as he did last year, Thousand Stars quickened and asserted close home.

Formosa Joana Has was third with Mourad and Zaidpour fourth and fifth.

"He's an iron horse -- he's just too tough and it's amazing how he has raced from the Morgiana (at Punchestown in November) up to today and not missed a Festival," Mullins reflected. "He's so tough. To win a race like this two years in a row is just fantastic."

Earlier, the Irish raiders were out of luck as Usual Suspects took Grade One honours in the Prix Alain Du Breil at Auteuil.

Ut De Sivola, one of two Mullins-trained runners, fared best but he was only fifth behind Guy Cherel's four-year-old. Dermot Weld's Hisaabaat never threatened and was a big disappointment, while the Tony Martin-trained Wingtips was sixth and the other Mullins runner, Loch Ard, never figured and was pulled up.

Irish Independent

[Sprinter]

Irishracing blog

Ruby Walsh is a master of most tracks in Britain and Ireland but he’s clearly on top of Auteuil as well judged by a perfectly judged effort on Thousand Stars in the French Champion Hurdle.

Characteristically patient, Walsh inched the Willie Mullins trained grey into contention down the back but resisted the temptation to go too soon, even when the leader opened up a good lead.

In fact, Walsh didn’t ask Thousand Stars for anything major even when a major rival went for broke early in the straight. Only at the very last fence did he ask for the max and the response was instant. The winner was well on top at the line but the ease of the victory was hugely aided by the coolness of the ride.

It was a fourth victory in the race for Willie Mullins and you wonder why other Irish trainers aren’t following his example.

There was E370,000 up for grabs for the French Champion Hurdle. The Gold Cup run a few weeks ago is worth over E800,000. That’s huge money, and it’s not like ground conditions at Auteuil are rock-hard. Often in fact it’s real winter going, even in June.

Thousand Stars is a thoroughly admirable performer, a genuine Grade 1 horse, but he isn’t even the best hurdler in his own yard. The fact he is a dominant back-to-back to winner of France’s most valuable hurdle should give other trainers here something to ponder.

[Lester]

Looks like a rerun of the world hurdle ...with thousand stars. Form of that race has held up well enough with slow hit winning at aintree and celestial halo in France. Willie knows how to win it though - if one of his lot win will become joint top trainer.