Race favorite Losange Bleu received the Racing TV Grande Course De Haies D’Auteuil [The French Champion Hurdle] at Auteuil this afternoon, however there was disappointment for the Irish challenger Residence By The Lee who was pulled up.
Coming into this afternoon’s 3 miles 1 furlong 77 yards race, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Residence By The Lee was seen by many as a severe challenger to French star Losange Bleu who was bidding to regain the title he received in 2024.
The Seán O’Driscoll-owned Residence By The Lee had received two Grade 1 races, on the Cheltenham Competition and at Aintree, on his two earlier begins.
Quick early tempo
This afternoon, nevertheless, was one of many 11-year-old’s ‘non-going’ days, as Losange Bleu and jockey Johnny Charron set a quick tempo on the entrance of the 11-runner area.
With the seven-year-old son of Martaline extending his benefit because the race progressed, J.J. Slevin and Residence By The Lee quickly discovered themselves struggling in the back of the sector.
On the far aspect, on the ultimate circuit, Slevin took the smart choice to tug the son of Fame And Glory up, as he was by that stage fairly a distance off the opposite runners.
Losange Bleu, skilled by Dominic Bressou, got here house in splendid isolation, with Theleme staying on for second below Gaetan Masure, who had received the Prix Sagan earlier within the day.
A half-brother of the winner – each being by Martaline – Jet Blue was third, with Phantasm Machine subsequent house in fourth.
Didn’t occur for Residence By The Lee
Reacting to Residence By The Lee being pulled-up, J.J. Slevin advised Sports activities Information Eire instantly after the race:
“It simply didn’t occur for him at this time. They went a very good gallop and clearly horses went previous him and he hasn’t loved it – that’s him. The preparation had been good. That’s simply him – everybody is aware of what he’s like, and the winner’s very superb.”
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