Jason Kiely previews Sunday's quality jumps racing at Compiegne

In any normal year we would have been dedicating this afternoon to the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris, but due to lockdown still engulfing the French capital we head a little further north to the Hippodrome de Compiegne, where we are treated to some great action none the less with three Group Three races over the obstacles featuring some top-class animals.

As usual our man in France Jason Kiely guides us through the 10-race card and highlights some horses to follow throughout the afternoon.

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Excellent l’Autonomie should score on first trip outside Paris

The queen of French jumps racing l’Autonomie has been successful on nine of her twelve lifetime starts with all of those runs coming at Auteuil racecourse. This afternoon will see the five-year-old line-up for the first time outside of Paris as she faces seven rivals in the Group three Prix Hypothese (14.55). Sure to go off the heavy odds-on favourite, the François Nicolle-trained mare should have no problem adding victory number ten to her glowing CV. The Royan-based trainer has won the last two runnings of this event (held at Auteuil) with wonder mare De Bon Coeur and the champion trainer has often labelled Autonomie as the next superstar to come from his thriving stable.

With her keen going style, l’Autonomie often makes her own running in her races and jockey Angelo Zuliani should have no problem setting the fractions up front if needs be, especially at today's optimal distance of 3,800m.

Looking at the rest of the field, there was a lot to like about the return run of David Cottin-trained Pesk Ebrel. Sidelined for almost two seasons the former Group one-placed gelding bounced back with an all the way success three weeks ago at Dieppe and is one of two Cottin trained runners in the €84,000 contest with the trainer also saddling Paul’s Saga who disappointed on her return.

Le Clerc gets call for Follet

Teenage riding sensation Baptiste le Clerc gets the leg-up on Group one winner Feu Follet for the first time this afternoon in quite controversial circumstances. The geldings regular rider and champion jockey Bertrand Lestrade will be present at the racecourse but has not been declared to ride any of the Guillaume Macaire runners but instead rides for rival trainer François Nicolle. This strange turn of events could allow 18-year-old Le Clerc to score the biggest success of his career as Feu Follet looks the most likely winner of the Group three Prix Heros X11.

The five-year-old benefits from a huge weight advantage and will carry only 64kgs as he takes on some older rivals in the 4,500m chase, a consolation race for the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris. Feu Follet holds a 100% strike-rate at the racecourse and made an excellent return to racing when finishing a strong second in the Prix Murat a few weeks ago. With that run sure to have blown away any cobwebs the Guillaume Macaire-trained gelding should be ridden closer to the pace this afternoon and looks very hard to beat.

Crystal Beach was extremely impressive on his recent win over hurdles at Compiegne and could pose the biggest threat to Feu Follet for trainer Marcel Rolland. The enormous gelding jumped and travelled with sublime ease on that comeback run before quickening away to victory. That run would have put Crystal Beach spot-on for the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris over a much further distance but he can still play a leading role.

Some potential young stars across the card

Bred to be top class being a half-sister to the formidable Srelighonn, three-year-old Trheliga (13.00) got her career off to the perfect start when scoring on debut three weeks ago. The François Nicolle-trained filly looked like a seasoned professional as she jumped with ease around Auteuil, coming home t wo lengths clear of her nearest rival in the listed Prix Wild Monarch three weeks ago. The switch to Compiegne should pose no problems for the daughter of Martaline who could be a notch above her five rivals and the biggest threat could come from stablemate Sainte Candy.

Want Of A Nail will look to set the record straight in the Prix Christian de Tredern(16.45). The Guillaume Macaire-trained filly was disappointing on her recent return to action and should strip fitter this afternoon. Although Macaire has a relatively weak record in this Group three event Want Of A Nail is the highest rated of the field and should take all the beating if returning to her brilliant best. The daughter of Kapgarde will be ridden by jockey Felix de Giles and once again the former Macaire stable jockey Bertrand Lestrade does not ride.

Gabriel Leenders is a trainer riding on the crest of a wave at the moment and has saddled numerous big race winners over the last few weeks. This afternoon the Angers-based man is responsible for red-hot favourite Baladin de Mesc in the Listed Prix Stanley (12.25).

Leenders’ three-year-olds are excelling this spring and Baladin de Mesc is no exception. An excellent winner on debut at Angers a fortnight ago marked the start of a bright career for the son of Choeur du Nord and Leenders was extremely positive about the gelding in his post-race interview.

Although there are only six runners heading to post for this listed race they all look to hold a chance and it could be the other Leenders trained runner Gold Tweet that can give the favourite the biggest challenge.

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