Latest news with #Auteuil
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jockey goes 'horse skating' as French rider clings onto two foals at once after falling off favourite during jump
A jockey was seen holding on for dear life during the final moments of a race at Auteuil in France on Saturday. The crowd were cheering on their favourites for success in the race, with the horses still grouped together as those watching on waiting in anticipation to see who would emerge as the front-runner. Their attention, though, was soon turned to the back of the pack when Kevin Nabet fell off his foal and clung on to his own horse - and another. Nabet found himself with a chance of victory as the race entered the final turn, with 6/5 favourite Lord Brett - known for its straight line speed - eyeing the win. As the four-year-old horse jumped the final hurdle, however, it appeared to lose its balance, causing Nabet to fall off and take measures into his own hands. He landed back on top of his horse, but was unable to get his right leg across and ended up clinging onto a rival horse to avoid a heavy fall - resulting in both runners falling to the back of the grid. Watch the jockey in the blue and yellow colours! 🤯 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 17, 2025 As he was thrown to the floor, Nabet held onto L'Amazone with his left hand and Lord Brett with his left, and was briefly carried along the course by both horses. Approaching the bend, he was dragged across the ground as he dangled from both horses, with some viewers suggesting he was 'horse skating'. L'Amazone went on to finish fourth out of the five finishers, with Nabet falling to the ground but avoiding serious injury. Commentator Darren Owen said on Sky Sports Racing: 'Look at Lord Brett's jockey there, hanging on for dear life to L'Amazone and her jockey. Spectacular stuff.' 'Horse skating,' one fan replied to a post on social media asking what fans should 'call the new sport' as a video of Nabet's actions were shared. Another, meanwhile, posted: 'Not happy that was my horse he's hanging onto. Cost him the race.' A third posted: 'Jockeys when I bet British currency on them to do their job.'
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Hewick aiming to make it third time lucky in French Champion Hurdle
The remarkable Hewick will try to make it third time lucky in Saturday's French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil. Runner-up to Losange Bleu in last year's Grande Course De Haies d'Auteuil, and fourth in the race in 2023, Hewick is back for another crack at the €390,000 feature, which is off at 3.25 Irish time and live on Sky. Even by the unlikely standards already achieved by 'Shark' Hanlon's €850 bargain buy during his career, victory in France's biggest hurdles contest might constitute a peak. He is the sole Irish contender in an eight-runner contest where local star Losange Bleu is favourite to defend his title. Benie Des Dieux was Ireland's last winner six years ago. READ MORE Also lining up is the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral, last year's Cheltenham Festival winner, who is part-owned by Alex Ferguson and has been supplemented into the race. Nicholls won the 'Grande Course' in 2016 with Ptit Zig. Cork-born jockey Gavin Sheehan is again on board Hewick, having guided him into eighth in last month's Grand National at Aintree. Sheehan's only other spin on the hugely popular veteran was when successful in the 2023 King George at Kempton. 'He's a wonderful horse. I said if he won the Grand National, they probably would have made a movie out of him!' Sheehan said. 'Having had that run last year and that experience will help. It's different racing over there, a different style. I've rode in it before and it's a straightforward track. The only difference is they have a hurdle on a bend. The drier the ground the better for him as well,' he added. Bookmakers rate Hewick a general 11/4 second favourite to challenge the odds-on Losange Bleu. Sunday's €900,000 highlight at Auteuil is the Grand Steeple-Chase De Paris, off at 3.05. There will be no Grade One jumps action in Ireland for more than five months, but the relentless National Hunt circus rolls into Wexford on Saturday. In the wake of Rachael Blackmore's retirement earlier this week, Darragh O'Keeffe continues to be busy picking up the bulk of rides for Henry De Bromhead, and Aspire Tower looks the one to beat in the novice chase. The last of O'Keeffe's six rides at Wexford is Pebble Bleu in the handicap chase, where the course hurdles winner Kiln Time has just a second start over fences. Inexperience is an obvious concern but a mark of 81 over fences looks exploitable for Harry Kelly's runner.
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
How Louisa Carberry traded Badminton dream to rule France's ‘Gold Cup'
In Louisa Carberry's dreams she would have been picking up the Badminton Trials Trophy last weekend. Instead, life took her in a different direction and from her French base at Senonnes, she is preparing the appositely named elegant giant, Gran Diose, for the defence of his Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris title at Auteuil on Sunday. The race, first run in 1874 over 3¾ miles and 23 obstacles, is France's equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup but is worth more (€900,000). It is the third-most valuable jump race in the world after the Grand National and Japan's Nakayama Grand Jump. It remains etched into British steeplechasing's distant memory for the exploits of Mandarin, the last Britain-based winner, when Fred Winter rode the 11-year-old with a broken bit and, therefore, no steering or brakes from the fourth fence onwards to record a celebrated victory in 1962. Carberry, 40, already has her own slice of Grand Steeple history as its most successful female trainer, having won it twice with Docteur de Ballon in 2020 and 2021, and again last year with Gran Diose. Ironically, until Isabelle Pacault won it with Carriacou in 2019 it had never been won by a female trainer; now five of the past six runnings have gone their way. Yet in her youth, eventing was her passion. Though she competed at Gatcombe, Blenheim and Chatsworth, Badminton, close to her home, was the itch she was never able to scratch. 'I entered it twice,' she says. 'The first time I got balloted out, the second time the horse broke down before he got there.' But thoroughbreds were never too far away in the background. Her uncle, Kim Brassey, had trained in Lambourn and her paternal grandmother was a massive racing fan and named all her cockerels after jockeys. 'I remember going out to feed Lester Piggott and Greville Starkey,' she recalls. In her gap year she went to ride out for Henrietta Knight and it flicked a switch. 'When I was 24, I did the sums and realised eventing without financial backing would be a difficult road,' she says. 'Why I thought racing would be any easier I have no idea! I knew I'd never be able to afford to set up in Britain so I went to France. 'It was close enough to home if it all went wrong, but the luckiest thing was landing up in Alain de Royer-Dupré's yard in Chantilly. I ended up as a stable lad – I needed to learn from the bottom up. If you had your eyes and ears open and observed, you learnt.' At the same time Philip Carberry, a member of the Irish racing dynasty (son of Tommy, one of the few people to ride and train a Grand National winner, sister to Paul and Nina), was also living in Chantilly. He won a Champion Hurdle on Sublimity and, in France, two Grand Steeples on Princesse D'Anjou in 2006 and 2008. On the day the mare retired following her last run in the race in 2010, he and Louisa met in the bar after racing at Auteuil. Two years later his main owner sold his entire string and, by then a married couple, they decided to have a go at training. They took half a barn in Senonnes before buying their own 40-acre stable, which allows them to turn their 40 horses out daily and suits their style of training horses for a long career rather than a quick sale, the modus operandi of a lot of French jump trainers. At first glance Senonnes appears to be in the middle of nowhere (on a culinary map of France it is 20 minutes from Brie and in the Rosé d'Anjou wine-growing area). Its church could comfortably fit its population of humans and most of its horses; it has a racecourse, but beyond the gallops its facilities extend only to a tack shop. The four nearest cities (Nantes, Rennes, Laval and Angers) are an hour away. But it was set up as a racing centre at the turn of this century because there are 100 racecourses within a two-hour drive. It was not long before Docteur de Ballon arrived. 'We were just in the right place at the right time for him,' she recalls. 'We took two moderate horses for the owner-breeder when he had to move them from Chantilly. He arrived as a newly broken three-year-old which they couldn't sell. He was small and chestnut by Doctor Dino [now a very popular jumping sire] who hadn't had a runner at that stage.' The first year he ran in the Grand Steeple he was still going well when he fell at the 20th. 'I cried all the way home,' admits Carberry. 'I was young, we didn't have many horses, it would have been a career-changing race. I thought that was our one chance gone. My family were telling me not to worry, we'd get another go, but I told them they just didn't understand – that was our chance. I was such a spoilt brat!' Fate intervened, this time in her favour. Docteur de Ballon was stood in a field recovering from a tendon injury the following May when the 2020 race should have been run, but Covid meant it was delayed six months until the autumn. 'It was a huge stroke of luck and the horse aced it. Philip used to ride him out every day. His collarbone was in three pieces from his time as a jockey, but he put off the operation until Docteur de Ballon retired. Everything we've got now is thanks to him. We owe him a huge amount. 'The wins gave us the confidence we could do it, but I'm still going into this week full of trepidation. People go on about three or four favourites, but we all know a 50-1 shot can win it and I don't feel smug when one of them drops out because I know it could be us next.' In contrast to Docteur de Ballon, Gran Diose is 18 hands, dark brown. 'He's timid, very shy and would apologise before he bit you,' she says. 'He has one massive action, a long relentless stride. You're a passenger, not a driver, on him. Docteur, on the other hand, had a huge sprint finish.' She rides Gran Diose out every day. 'It's about knowing what buttons to push and what not to push. We know each other very well.' France is now home for this wing of the Carberry family. 'I'm England 'til I die,' she says. 'I love France but I miss British food. I dream of spaghetti hoops on toast and pub grub and they don't have Galaxy chocolate here! But we'd never have got this opportunity at home. We had nothing except Philip's achievements as a jockey when we started so had nothing to lose. Sometimes in life you just have to grab the nettle.'
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci buy potential superstar horse who looks just like the next Lossiemouth
WILLIE MULLINS and Rich Ricci have been busy in France buying another potential superstar - who looks just like the next Lossiemouth. Striking grey filly Manita will run in the famous pink and green silks of the legendary owner next season. 3 3 3 Ricci gave the thumbs up to buying the once-raced filly formerly in the care of Yannick Fouin after a promising debut. Manita caught the attention of one of the most powerful double acts in racing with her runner-up finish to Manlaga in the Prix Auricula - a 1m7f race for three-year-old fillies unraced over jumps at Auteuil last March. Manita was beaten three lengths by Manlaga, who has since gone to Nicky Henderson for owner JP McManus. Manlaga earned rave reviews for her win, with respected French publication Jour De Galop waxing lyrical over her future. They said: "The Prix Auricula was brilliantly won by the well-bred Manlaga. "Her final acceleration was the result of a good filly. "She is one of the stable's promising prospects. "Hanging on in fifth place, Manlaga showed serious jumping. "Fourth between the last two hurdles, she tracked the favorite Donatella before swooping down on the leaders just after the final obstacle. "With 100 metres to go, ridden only by hands and heels, Manlaga detached her rivals to win by three lengths. "A filly with a beautiful hindquarters, Manlaga showcased the strength of Marcel Rolland's training." But it's Manita who caught the eye of Mullins. She is by Moises Has, a Grade 1 hurdle winner who finished outside the top three just once in seven races in France. He won the £75,000 2m3f Prix Renaud du Vivier in November 2020, beating James Du Berlais, who moved to Mullins after that race. Manita is out of a Master Craftsman mare, and he is a stallion who has been more than useful for Mullins. The Irish handler had Scaramanga by the same stallion and won just shy of £200,000 with him - while the brilliant Busselton, also by Master Craftsman, has won almost £300,000 over jumps for Joseph O'Brien. Mullins has been busy rebuilding his squad after winning the British and Irish jumps trainer titles. He has already bought 'the most exciting horse for next season '. The promising hurdler will arrive at Closutton having won one race at Auteuil before being snapped up by Mullins, following the same path as Lossiemouth, State Man and Galopin Des Champs to name but a few. While a first-of-its-kind deal will see Mullins train a hugely exciting runner for King Charles and Queen Camilla. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Willie Mullins buys ‘the most exciting horse for next season' after seeing what he did on debut
WILLIE MULLINS is going all guns blazing in his attempt to continue dominating jumps racing - with the purchase of the 'most exciting horse for next season'. The Closutton boss plunders all the top talent from France, with the likes of Lossiemouth, State Man and Galopin Des Champs all arriving at his Irish HQ after one race across the Channel. 2 Narciso Has was snapped up by Willie Mullins for owner JP McManus after this hugely impressive debut at Auteuil 2 The hugely exciting Narciso Has has been bought by the two most powerful forces in jumps racing Credit: Sportsfile And now it has been confirmed that the hugely promising Narciso Has will join the list of superstars to move to Mullins after one run at Auteuil. Jour De Galop reported that Mullins moved quickly to seal a deal for the Marcel Rolland-trained Narciso Has on behalf of legendary billionaire owner JP McManus. Mullins and McManus won the Ryanair together with Fact To File at this year's Cheltenham Festival and have enjoyed huge success with the likes of Grand National hero I Am Maximus, plus Majborough and Dinoblue to name just a few others. Three-year-old Narciso Has, a son of awesome jumps stallion Doctor Dino, was an eased-down winner of the 1m7f Prix Wild Monarch (Poulains) last month. The contest, worth just shy of £25,000 to the winner, is for colts or geldings making their debut over obstacles. It clearly bodes well for the future that Narciso Has saw off his nearest challenger, Diablo Vert, with a slick, well-timed leap at the last. From good stock HERE are just some of the awesome jumpers Doctor Dino has produced... State Man Sharjah Docteur De Ballon Jade De Grugy La Bague Au Roi Dinoblue Sceau Royal Fil Dor Jazzy Matty And jockey Ludovic Philipperon hardly had to get serious in the saddle as the post approached. He merely eased out his mount, the one-and-a-quarter-length winning margin flattering Narciso Has' rivals. One punter said Narciso Has represents 'the most exciting' purchase to come from France so far this summer season. Describing his debut win, French racing bible Equidia said: "Always seen at the front, Narciso Has accelerated in the straight and did not win by a long way, but with a lot of authority. "Alongside the pacesetter Diablo Vert, Narciso Has took a slight advantage over his rival between the last two hurdles, before heading off to an authoritative victory." Mullins and bloodstock agent Harold Kirk will be busy in France over the next few months, picking out who they believe will be future champions. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
