French Preview: Djakadam's time to shine

There are two big National Hunt races taking place at Auteuil on Sunday in the shape of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. The former has been dominated by the home team in recent years, but English and Irish raiders have taken five of the last seven renewals of the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, and they are again mob-handed for this year’s race.

Guillaume Macaire and James Reveley have won the Grande Steeple-Chase de Paris the past two years with So French, who again is set to line up on Sunday. However, he has been more miss than hit since winning this race 12 months ago, and Reveley has jumped ship to the less-exposed On The Go. The five-year-old has won just one of his five starts over fences, but has shown himself a smart chaser, and he has to be respected for leading connections.

In terms of form, though, he has a fair bit to find with the Willie Mullins-trained Djakadam, who is 5 lb clear of his nearest rival Perfect Impulse on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. Djakadam seems to have been around forever, but he is still only a nine-year-old, and his consistency is hard to knock. He built on his encouraging run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when finishing runner-up for the third year running in the Punchestown version last time. That form very much sets the standard here, and it is interesting that Willie Mullins is sending him over for this.

Bipolaire looks the best of Francois Nicolle’s quartet, and he should remain competitive having finished third to Milord Thomas over shorter at this course last time.

L’Ami Serge is back to defend his crown in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil having proved better than ever when beating Alex de Larredya by one and a half lengths 12 months ago. L’Ami Serge has enjoyed another good domestic season since, looking at the top of his game when winning the Aintree Hurdle last time, and seems sure to put up another bold bid.

However, he faces a stern challenger in the shape of De Bon Coeur, who looks progressive and receives 9 lb from her main rivals. Admittedly, she tasted defeat for the first time when completing at the hands of stablemate Alex de Larredya over shorter here last time, but she remains with the potential for better. She also has to prove her stamina on her first try beyond two and a half miles, but her strike rate is hard to argue with, and she is 6 lb clear on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

Others worth mentioning are Killultagh Vic, who was let down by his jumping over fences last season, and could surprise a few back in this discipline, while one of Willie Mullins’ other runners Yorkhill has the potential to mix it with these if putting it all together.

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