ENGLISH VERSION of the Theleme fan club as he’ s a gorgeous horse who can sprint finish at the end of a three-mile race like I’ ve never seen before where as Losange Bleu takes the puff out of horses halfway down the back straight with a mile to run, and he does it with consummate easy. The race went to script, Losange Bleu took them along as a merry speed that surprisingly only Illusion machine could keep up with until the find bend where he hit the marathon runners wall, I would call it and all but stopped up the running. Gaetan Masure took his time and came into the 2 nd spot with 20 lengths to find on the leader when jumping the last. He showed his spart and speed to reduce the gap to 7 lengths at the line, all be it with losange bleu eased down by Johnny Charron. For me and a lot of people, they felt like what could have been had Masure kept Theleme closer to the pace, could he have reeled him in with that devastating kick finish to fight out the finish. We didn’ t get to see it this time but now we have seen Theleme is back to his best I think the rematch in November will be eye wateringly good. Save the date people you won’ t want to miss it. Sunday was actually a day of driving and seeing foals for me, yes, the grind never stops but for the Paris crowd it means the best Steeplechasers in France taking each other on over 3 and 3 quarter miles. The day began with the grade 3 Prix Aguado for three year old hurdlers and the day continued the dominance of owner Xavier Papot and his green and blue silks as Heron bleu lived up to the chatter and strode in to the winner enclosure for the 2 nd time from two starts with 6 lengths between him and the 2 nd. It looks like Papot already has his next start when comes the day of Losange Bleus retirement. The group one for four year old hurdlers was dominated by the girls with Selma de vary from the Willie Mullins stable holding off the sweet heart of France Delmegan. Selma de vary must have seen this as a returning reunion for her previous owners and newly found supporters as a twice placed group one horse at Cheltenham and Aintree. Her outstanding trainer cleverly decided to skip Punchestown in favor for this and elongate her season for this target and she didn’ t let him down or her jockey Paul Townend who pulled off another masterclass in race management and pace understanding. It was tough for Delmegan who had been faultless in her two prep runs this year and condolences have to be said for her young trainer who came close to bagging her first Grade 1. November though will be the target and typically no Mullins horses will be boarding a ferry for that 48 hour meeting. The other group one for four year old this time over fences again went to the talking horse before hand in Metronomique. He was undefeated last year and won two chases by 15 lengths both times. This year was all but fault less as well except on his first start at Auteuil in a group three contest he fell uncharacteristically, only for him to get his season back of track at Compiegne again n another group three. Black type win ticked the obvious choice was to roll the dice, forget about last time and go for the group one. Why not they had what they felt was the best horse in the race and my god did he prove it. Led from the front under regular partner James Reveley he was relentless by attacking the fences at speed and allowing no let up for those behind him. His task was certainly made easier by the departure of good girl de faust early on and Melissa du Mathan at the second last but make no mistake all he had to do was stay on his feet and he was the winner. Which he did easily and strolled across the last an eye watering 14 lengths in front. Something I feel like Is quite freakish in a group on contest. And he wasn’ t stopping at the line either, grand Steeplechase 2027 here we come I say. The big race of the day continued the dominance of owner Xavier Papot with what can only be described as a popular win of the race with the returning champion Sel Jem bagging himself a 2 nd win in the race four years on from his first as a prolific 5-year-old. It should
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