With the Auteuil season well under way, we have seen older hurdlers and chasers in action as they begin to plot their way toward the spring showpieces, however this Saturday, it is the 4 year-old chasing generation under scrutiny. Run over 3500m, the G.3 Prix Duc d’Anjou covers a figure-of-eight which necessitates negotiating the perilous ‘rivière des tribunes’, something 2023 winner, Juntos Ganamos succeeded in doing before going on to win a Grade 1 two months later.

Uncontested leader of his generation in 2023, the unbeaten Kaadam is assured the majority of support for a race which will have a bearing on the rest of the season. A tremendous jumper, held in high regard by his team, Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé’s gelding will again meet Karré D’As who finished second, 4.5 lengths behind him, in the Prix Congress last November. If Kadaam performs like his stablemates have in the Paris region over recent days, he will be very hard to beat. 

Respectively fourth and fifth in the Congress, Fabuleux Rico and Boom Boom Ciao are not cut from the same cloth and are unlikely to ruffle too many feathers. In stark contrast, Koriste and Chanteur Du Bourg, finished one-two in Pau’s Listed Prix Antoine de Palaminy, regarded as the best provincial contest for 4 year-old chasers. The latter already has some experience of Auteuil, pleasing twice over hurdles. Jérôme Delaunay’s filly, though, takes on the Butte Mortemart for the very first time.

Untried in public over fences, Kentucky Wood nevertheless showed considerable potential over hurdles here during the autumn, winning his last two races by a total of 21 lengths, and finishing in the money appears well within his capacity. By some margin the lowest-rated horse in the field, Yutu faces a tough task.