Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil [Groupe I] 

The Feature Meeting

Analysis & Selections by

"éléphant"

Whether it be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular may even convince you to back some of those horses which we feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims. whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.

SELECTIONS - For each race, we have given you who, in our view, are the likeliest winners; (1er. _ LE GAGNANT?), as well as any runners who could run well at eachway odds; (E/W ALTERNATIVE) . Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis.

AUTEUIL 
Samedi, Juin 14. 
Terrain : Très souple ~ [Pénétromètre : 3.8]
|¯¯¯¯"Premier¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 13:45 PRIX BRISSAC Steeple-Ch` - 5 ans. 7 partants. 42000 EUR 3500 m. ~ Pour tous chevaux de 5 ans, n'ayant pas reçu 18.000 (victoires et places) en steeple-chases. Poids : 65k. Surcharges accumulées pour les sommes reçues (victoires et places) en steeple-chases : 1k. par 3.000 cette année et par 8.000 l'année dernière. Les Jockeys n'ayant pas gagné vingt- cinq courses recevront 2k. 
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¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The first race on Champion Hurdle day is a Steeplechase restricted to five-year-olds over 3500m. Of the seven horses declared to run, Kidimo (a winner twice this season over fences at Nantes), Kurasso Bleu (a maiden who was third in the Prix Mélinoir Steeplechase on his most recent start here at the end of May) and Kissovo (a winner over hurdles at Fontainebleau in April) would appear to be the horses with the strongest credentials. Although Kidimo has the winning habit, I would expect more improvement from Kurasso Bleu and as he has already demonstrated his ability to act on the course, he is marginally preferred.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Kurasso Bleu
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Kidimo
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Kissovo

|¯¯¯¯"Deuxième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 14:15 PRIX AGUADO Haies - Mâles - L. - 3 ans. 8 partants. 105000 EUR. 3500 m
~ Pour poulains entiers et hongres de 3 ans. Poids: 62k. Surcharges accumulées jusqu'à concurrence de 4k. pour les sommes reçues (victoires et places) : 1k. par 14.000.
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¦ "one to jump" ¦ ¬: Are there any horses from "ONE TO JUMP 2003/4" - Our feature which; each season, provides a list of horses to follow during the current national hunt season? ¦:¬»-- Positive Thinking
¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The Prix Aguado is the best three-year-old hurdle run so far in France and of the nine declared runners, cases can be made for Positive Thinking (winner of all three starts over the course, most recently the Prix Stanley at the end of May), Star Glory (unbeaten before tasting defeat behind Positive Thinking in the Prix Stanley), Nasha La Motte, (winner of the valuable Prix Wild Monarch, a race that usually attracts some of the better French juveniles), Martin Pecheur (an easy winner of the Prix Pouilly a month ago) and Le Broadway (third to Nasha La Motte on his debut in the Prix Wild Monarch, who improved on that effort to win the Prix Rocking Chair at the end of May). It's a pity that this race isn't on our screens as it is extremely likely that it will throw up several future winners (even possibly future winners over here). Preference is just for Positive Thinking who was made to battle when winning last time out and I will not be at all surprised if Nasha La Motte or Broadway did not make him do so again here.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Positive Thinking
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Nasha La Motte
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Le Broadway

|¯¯¯¯"Troisième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 14:45 PRIX HARDATIT Haies - Handicap divisé - première épreuve - L. - 5 ans et plus - Réf : + 1 ; + 3. 17 partants. 95000 EUR. 3600 m ~ Pour tous chevaux de 5 ans et au- dessus, ayant couru depuis le 1er Janvier de l'année dernière inclus et ayant, lors de l'une de leurs six dernières courses en obstacles, soit été classés dans les sept premiers d'une course ayant servi de support à des paris enregistrés sur le plan national ou d'une course disputée sur les hippodromes de Pau, Clairefontaine et de Cagnes sur Mer, soit ayant reçu une allocation de 7.500, soit été classés dans les trois premiers d'un prix (à réclamer excepté) couru sur un hippodrome de 1ère Catégorie. A la déclaration des partants probables, les poids de cette épreuve pourront etre éventuellement relevés par application d'une nouvelle référence, sans que le poids le plus élevé ne puisse etre supérieur à 71k.
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¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- Eighteen runners have been declared for the Prix Hardatit Handicap Hurdle over 3600 metres. Of the nineteen runners declared, Fou De Roy, Gold Magic, Pascalo, Walk On Seas, Billowing Sail, Roiligh De Vindecy, King Presse, Dressbaby and Imtime would appear to have the strongest claims. Fou De Roy will be popular with punters having finished third in the Prix Wild Risk here three weeks ago. However, he has plenty of weight here and my preference would be Gold Magic (a son of Goldneyev who makes his debut in handicap company over hurdles having won the Prix Laponte on his most recent start a month ago). He is open to plenty of improvement over hurdles and hopefully may have enough speed to take this event on the long run in. The admirable consistent Walk On Seas (regularly place over hurdles) and Billowing Sails (interesting if you ignore his last run here in the Prix Wild Risk at the end of last month) are others I'd consider.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Gold Magic
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Fou De Roy
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Billowing Sail

|¯¯¯¯"Quatrième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 15:20 PRIX ALAIN DU BREIL - COURSE DE HAIES D'ETE DES QUATRE ANS Haies - [Groupe I] - 4 ans. 9 partants. 175000 EUR. 3900 m ~ Pour tous poulains et pouliches de 4 ans. Poids: 66k. 
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¦ "one to jump" ¦ ¬: Are there any horses from "ONE TO JUMP 2003/4" - Our feature which; each season, provides a list of horses to follow during the current national hunt season? ¦:¬»-- Nickname
¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The Prix Alain Du Breil is one of the premier hurdles for last season's juveniles. This year's renewal has attracted a field of nine and it will be a huge surprise if the race isn't dominated by Nickname (a winner of five of his eight starts over hurdles, most recently the Group 2 Prix Amadou here at the end of April), Bulougun (a huge brute of a mare who has won three from five over hurdles including last time out when finishing in front of Nickname when landing the Prix De Longchamp here at the end of May) or Homme De Bourg who finally fulfilled his potential when winning the Prix Miror here a month ago. Bulougun and Nickname have been trading victories of late and I expect a fierce battle here up the final straight, however when 'on song', I do believe that Nickname is the better of the two and if you ignored his run last time in the Prix De Longchamp (run in the most horrendous thunder storm), he could well return to winning ways here.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Nickname
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Bulougun
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Homme De Bourg

|¯¯¯¯"Cinquième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 15:55 PRIX DES DRAGS Steeple-Ch` - [Groupe II] - 5 ans et plus. 10 partants. 175000 EUR. 4400 m ~ Pour tous chevaux de 5 ans et au- dessus, n'ayant pas, cette année, en steeple-chase, reçu une allocation de 180.000. Poids :5 ans, 63k., 6 ans et au-dessus, 65k. Surcharges accumulées jusqu'à concurrence de 7 k. pour les sommes reçues (victoires et places) en steeple-chases: 1k. par 45.000 cette année et par 125.000 l'année dernière. 
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¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The Grand Steeplechase De Paris form gets tested as Batman Senora (an honourable second to Lion Marine in that event) bids to land this Group 2 chase although he faces stiff opposition from Sunny Flight, Rougenoir and Cerilly who all reoppose him here as well as Ty Benjam (a globetrotter who has run creditably in Japan and Italy as well as his native France of late). Batman Senora is sure to be popular and will go close to giving us Brits a winner on this card, however several of the horses who ran in the Grand Steeplechase De Paris didn't show their true form, one of those being Sunny Flight (who if he replicated the form shown when landing the Prix Ingre here at the beginning of May would be very hard to beat)...I'm inclined to side with him here.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Sunny Flight
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Ty Benjam
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Batman Senora

|¯¯¯¯"Sixième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 16:35 GRANDE COURSE DE HAIES D'AUTEUIL - Haies - [Groupe I] - 5 ans et plus. 8 partants. 275000 EUR. 5100 m ~ Pour tous chevaux de 5 ans et au- dessus. Poids: 5 ans, 65k., 6 ans et au-dessus, 67k.
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¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- A fascinating renewal of the French Champion Hurdle comes next, which on the face of it appears to be a golden opportunity for Karly Flight (so impressive when landing the Prix La Barka here at the end of May) who bids for her fourteenth career win from nineteen starts. She has looked imperious of late, however she is unproven over this distance and I wonder if Martin Pipe has devised a strategy to test her stamina to the hilt here because that is the only reason I can imagine why he has entered Mr Cool for this event. I have a suspicion that this horse is here to turn this into as much as a British hurdle race as possible, which could help stablemate Iznogoud who is interesting if he could replicate his At The Races Gold Cup form. He has tried that tactic before unsuccessfully with Deano's Beeno and it may well prove to be unsuccessful again here, however a strongly run race may well aid Trespass ( a useful juvenile a few seasons ago, who has returned to winning form, winning his last three starts cosily, most recently the Prix Jean Granel here at the beginning of May). He appears to be a horse who will appreciate this trip and if there is going to be a surprise today, he is the one most likely to cause it. I'll take Karly Flight's class to just get her home. A word of mention for Willie Mullin's runner, Nobody Told Me (who ran well behind Karly Flight in the Prix La Barka). She is another with a question mark against her with regards to the trip and if any of the British runners are likely to make the frame I actually think it will be Iznogoud, who at least we know is guaranteed to stay the trip.
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Karly Flight
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Trespass
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Iznogoud

|¯¯¯¯"Septième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 17:10 PRIX KATKO Steeple-Ch` - Handicap de catégorie - 4 ans - Réf : + 5. 11 partants. 65000 EUR. 3500 m. ~ Pour tous poulains et pouliches de 4 ans, ayant couru depuis le 1er janvier de l'année dernière inclus et ayant, lors de l'une de leurs six dernières courses en obstacles, soit été classés dans les sept premiers d'une course ayant servi de support à des paris enregistrés sur le plan national ou d'une course disputée sur les hippodromes de Pau, Clairefontaine et de Cagnes sur Mer, soit ayant reçu une allocation de 7.500, soit été classés dans les trois premiers d'un prix (à réclamer excepté) couru sur un hippodrome de 1ère catégorie. Seront qualifiés, les poulains et les pouliches auxquels le handicapeur aura attribué une valeur égale ou inférieure à 64k. La référence de cette épreuve sera éventuellement remontée à la déclaration des partants probables, afin que le poids le plus élevé soit fixé à 70 k. 
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¦ "one to jump" ¦ ¬: Are there any horses from "ONE TO JUMP 2003/4" - Our feature which; each season, provides a list of horses to follow during the current national hunt season? ¦:¬»-- Sleeping Jack
¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The Prix Katko is a handicap steeplechase restricted to four-year-olds. Of the eleven runners declared, Dalkash, Sleeping Jack, Bartoldi, Royal D'Orthe, Sir De Sou and Kokkola would appear to have the strongest claims. Dalkash (a full-brother to Doukash who raced here for Martin Pipe a few seasons ago) will be popular particularly after his creditable fifth in the Group 2 Prix Jean Stern here at the end of April, however I like Sleeping Jack (a winner of his last three starts, most recently the Prix Caldarium here a month ago) who I'll be hoping is another winner for this season's One To Jump feature. 
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Sleeping Jack
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Dalkash
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Bartoldi

|¯¯¯¯"Huitième¨Course"¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯»-- 17:40 PRIX GACKO Haies - Handicap divisé - deuxième épreuve - 5 ans et plus. 19 partants. 34000 EUR. 3600 m ~ Pour tous chevaux de 5 ans et au- dessus, ayant couru depuis le 1er Janvier de l'année dernière inclus et ayant, lors de l'une de leurs six dernières courses en obstacles, soit été classés dans les sept premiers d'une course ayant servi de support à des paris enregistrés sur le plan national ou d'une course disputée sur les hippodromes de Pau, Clairefontaine et de Cagnes sur Mer, soit ayant reçu une allocation de 7.500, soit été classés dans les trois premiers d'un prix (à réclamer excepté) couru sur un hippodrome de 1ère Catégorie. Après division à la cloture des partants, les poids de cette épreuve seront relevés, par application d'une nouvelle référence sans que le poids le plus élevé ne puisse etre supérieur à 71 k. 
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¦ "éléphant" ¦:¬»-- The final race on the card is another handicap hurdle over 3,600 metres. Of the twenty runners declared, Beringneyev, Lady Argument, Ballinasloe, Port Gentil, Royal Pitch, Former Rascal, World Sun, Hurdle and Sky make most appeal. This isn't the greatest race in the world and whilst Francois Doumen's runner Former Rascal has a clear chance if replicating the form shown last time out when finishing fourth in the Prix Tanerko here at the end of May. I'd be inclined to take a chance with top-weight Beringneyev who finished in front of him in the Prix Bougie here in March even though he hasn't race since. Consistent handicappers Sky and Hurdle (who won his most recent start) are others I'd entertain here. 
¦ 1er. ¬ LE GAGNANT?¹ ¦:¬»-- Beringneyev
¦ 2e. placé ?² ¦:¬»-- Sky
¦ 3e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Hurdle
¦ 4e. placé ?³ ¦:¬»-- Former Rascal

This page was updated on Wednesday November 19, 2003 at 10:15:55 AM

THE FEATURE MEETING
POSTING TIME
Selections for Monday - Friday should be available after 9:30pm the previous evening, however on Saturday and Sunday due to other commitments won't be posted until after 8:30am those respective mornings unless otherwise stated. Hopefully this helps

DEDICATION

FURLONG TO GO would like to convey our condolences to the rook, whose father, George Edward Robertson passed away on 16th April 2003. 

Mr Robertson nurtured the rook's enthusiasm for this sport, and it was this inspiration, which is probably behind the creation of this website. As a permanent tribute to his memory, all the meetings covered under the "feature Meeting" banner will be dedicated to him... "Big George".