What do William Head, George Mitchell and Max Bonaventure have in common? They are the only three people to have won the Prix La Haye Jousselin as a jockey and then as a trainer. Sunday in Auteuil, David Cottin, three times on the list of winners as a driver, will try with his resident Together We Win to be the fourth man. For the moment, on the stands side, group I of the fall does not necessarily smile on him. In 2019, Dalahast falls on the rail-ditch and fence while he is in the lead. Two years later, Berry (started running at 6/10) had to be content with third place while his other horse General in Chief is declared non-starter the same morning. In 2022, Berry gave up running due to a physical problem a week before when he was shaping up to be a formidable client. The tide could well turn on Sunday with Together We Win. Even if it is probably the toughest edition of the last decade, even this century, Felix de Giles’ partner seems able to cross the post in the lead. Not particularly lucky (him either) in the big events (fell in the Maurice Gillois 2023 and in the Grand Steeple-Chase 2024), this horse full of class, and only 5 years old at the start, showed himself impressive in the only official preparatory course (Hero Prize XII) and will leave with the confidence of his mentor: “He worked well last week. He was a bit fresh when he came back to school and he is now very well. Going back to longer is going to be an advantage because it has a lot of action and a lot of staying power. No matter the terrain, it adapts to everything. He is able to go ahead as well as wait”.
An XXL opposition
If last October 19 in the XII Hero Prize, Together We Win made an impression, another candidate caused a sensation a few days before in the Richard and Robert Hennessy Prize. It is aboutHe is French. A phenomenon since its beginnings, the champion of the duo Noël George and Amanda Zetterholm missed his first semester (injured) but should make up for lost time at the end of the season in Auteuil, then in Kempton. Great Goddessspring, he didn’t miss it. Very fine winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris, Louisa Carberry’s protégé is on time and will arrive as usual at the top on the big day even if his usual jockey, Clément Lefebvre, is on the sidelines. Defending holder and fourth group I winner of the peloton, Life Size will also be there. Like last year, the second in the last Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris arrives at this event without having raced since May. Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, his trainer, is second to none and the champion of Haras de Saint-Voir is also a serious client. Behind this magic square, Diamond Carlwho returns after a long absence, the two representatives of Andrew Peake, In Love et Unbeatable from the Thresholdet PlacenetDavid Cottin’s other asset, are not the first to come but are still outsiders.
21
The winners of the competitors at the Prix La Haye Jousselin speak for themselves. Four group I winners on the steeplechase will be at the start. Together, they simply have 21 group successes on the steeplechase.
