Amazing Experience Riding At Unique Auteuil

It was Melon’s first time stepping up to 3 miles in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on Saturday and he pulled far too hard for the first part of the race.

French Fancies
It was a very good performance from Benie Des Dieux, again, a horse stepping up to three miles for the first time.

I would definitely put a line through Melon running over three miles again. I would say he will go novice chasing next season. It has been a long, hard season for him with Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown but I’ll be looking forward to seeing him novice chasing next season.

Pleasant Company was a bit disappointing in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. He made a big mistake on the water jump which scuppered his chances, just when he was starting to creep into it. The BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner, Burrows Saint, put up a decent performance finishing 5th and was the best of Willie Mullins’ entries.

It was a fantastic race and a great experience to ride in it.

It’s quite a unique track with different obstacles.

It’s very difficult for an Irish horse to go over there for the first time over those fences and win. The two ditches on the back straight are absolutely massive and the big water jump is a difficult one.

Burrows Saint would be a horse I’d be keeping an eye to go back there next year. He was trained for the Grand Steeple-Chase and he is definitely a horse that could win it.

It was enjoyable riding against the French riders. It’s different over there to the way we ride. They spread out at the back straight. A lot of the time they head underneath the trees. It’s a fantastic racecourse and the steeple chases are so unique.

It was brilliant for an Irish jockey, Davy Russell, to win the race on Carriacou on his first ever ride in the race too.

Put The Kettle On
Before I went to France I rode a winner at Kilbeggan on Friday night, Put The Kettle On, for Henry de Bromhead. It was a good performance considering it was her first run over fences.

She finished third at Punchestown and she’s a mare who will definitely tear away over fences in Mares’ Novice Chases this season.