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stallion Ectot. Having been held up in mid position by veteran jockey Johnny Charron, he settled just behind the favorite, Bryony Frost, before getting up late on and shocking all of Auteuil. The first group one of the day was the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure a four-year-old Steeplechase and again, the surprises kept coming. Lanivtsi, the only AQPS bred horse in the race trained by Dominic Bressou for owner Madam Patrick Papot delivered them another group one and looks to be a future steeple chasing star. For the young jockey on board, Gabin Meunier, this win was a breakthrough one at the top level for the former champion young jockey. It was also a huge result for young trainer Oceanne Ellart who took over the reins of training Martha Cannary after taking her license out at the start of the year. Having only ran 8 horses a total of 29 times with one winner, Martha Cannary finishing 2 nd in the grade one Steeplechase was a huge result and one deserved for such a bold move from the young trainer. The Goliath du Berlais filly was only having her fourth start over fences and three of those had been in graded company. She was ridden and guided by Erwan Bureller a renowned western jockey specializing in cross country races. The two of them never looked out of place and I for one will be excited to see the pair of them continue to take on the big guns in the autumn. Diamond Carl was a general 12 / 1 shot for the Grand Steeplechase de Paris having finished third on his prep run behind the market favorite Gran Diose. He was one part of a duo of runners for the former champion trainer Francois Nicole looking to secure his first French gold cup after thirty years of trying. Nicole reverted to last year’ s champion jockey Clement Lefebvre the victor of the 2024 edition of the Grand Steeplechases de Paris aboard Gran Diose. Due to injury forcing Lefebvre to miss Gran Diose last two victories, connections decided to stick with stand in jockey Thomas Beaurain leaving Lefebvre without a mount until the call up came for Diamond Carl. A champion in his four-yearold season, Diamond Carl had always had a lot of talent, but he isn’ t the biggest and his Haye Jousslin performance last autumn left us wondering if he was up to dining at the top table with the big boys. Well one thing I learnt at ten past four on Sunday afternoon was never doubt Francois Nicole as I sat and watched Diamond Carl scoot away in the biggest Steeplechase in France to win by 6 lengths. It was a story that fitted the billing of the biggest Steeplechase of the year, delivering a deserved victory to Nicole and a fairytale success for the jockey. Kivala du Berlais had a merry go round of jockeys as he was originally meant to be ridden by James Reveley, but he had commitments to Neverchangedoctor for the George and Zetterholm duo. Felix de Giles was asked to ride the morning of declarations, but he too was committed to another mount, so Lestrade was the chosen jockey. De Giles however was free at the final moment, but the opportunity was gone and as of the Friday morning, he was without a ride. I always believe things happen for a reason though and one man’ s misfortune and back luck is another man’ s opportunity and Lestrade’ s injury allowed De Giles to get back on the horse and a shot at winning his second group one. When you give someone with the talent and experience like De Giles a chance on a horse like Kivala du Berlais you know they have every chance of winning. Now if you’ d have said to me that the 5 / 1 shot would hold on and win the race by a nose in a photo finish then by this point of the weekend I would one hundred percent believe you. But that’ s racing isn’ t it, it’ s a merry go round of results, winners and surprises, and no matter what you think going to happen or should happen, horses are the best at humbling you and keeping your feet firmly on the ground.
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