Runner-up in the G.3 Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice with Oktente, and winner of a good handicap on the same afternoon with Jimble Moon, Mathieu Pitart comfortably ended the Cagnes-sur-Mer winter jump meeting at the top of the trainers’ table. Securing both the earnings’ and victories’ categories, during this time he also notched up his first Quinté+ big-handicap event, this however on the flat at Chantilly in mid-December.

In terms of success, there was a question-mark hanging over Mickaël Seror during the 2023 season, but he nevertheless finished the meeting third in number of wins, second in the prizemoney list but, most importantly, he landed the most coveted trophy of the winter. The Reader’s 2018 Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice success offered him a first Graded victory, while Marvel de Cerisy's triumph last weekend accorded a similar accolade to Irish owner, Caolan Woods. This was Clément Lefebvre’s only ride of the meeting and he will have returned home happily in the knowledge that the day’s excursion was a job well done.

Neck and neck going into the final day of the meeting, the fortunes of jockeys Nicolas Gauffenic and Dylan Ubeda would be settled over the course of the afternoon. Ubeda won the second but had to wait until six races later to secure the double, ensuring he took the title once again, significantly helped by his association with Mathieu Pitart. His winter journey got under way with success in the first race of the winter meeting on 4 December, and culminated with victory in the last race of the 4-weeks festival. Gauffenic took runner-up honours, followed by Nathanael Ferreira et Nathan Howie who finished joint-third.