Grand Steeplechase de Paris 2021

[greenasgrass]

I’ve stayed loyal to Feu Follet but this is a cracking field.

[greenasgrass]

He’s done it again! Well done Louisa Carberry

[FinalFurlong91]

Won easy too

[befair]

Always surprised there aren’t more Irish/British entries for this, in contrast to the French Champion Hurdle. I’m old enough to remember Captain Christy finishing 2nd.

[AndyRAC]

Probably because the type of horse able to challenge/ run well/ win it, is now at summer grass….

[The Tatling Cheekily]

Not sure I would agree with that Andy. As Befair says, the French Champion Hurdle generally attracts more from UK / Ireland, and is ran later than this race.

BUY THE SUN

[befair]

And e.g. Al Boum Photo only had 3 runs this year, starting in January, so his season wouldn’t have been that long.

[AndyRAC]

I think it just needs one UK/ Irish horse to run really well, and we may see more trying to ‘have a go’. I think it’s a cultural thing.
UK/Irish horses have done well, and even won the French Champion Hurdle, so there is no reason it couldn’t happen – but it tends to be with Staying hurdlers, which is viewed as the lowest priority in jump racing hierarchy.

A trainer trying to persuade an owner to possibly miss the Gold Cup, and go for the French version might be a step too far. You’d surely have to make it the horse’s number 1 target, not an after thought.

With the amount of prize money in France, it does surprise me more NH trainers don’t have more raids over there.

[Author]

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