Action this Sunday is back at Auteuil, the country’s flagship national-hunt racecourse, and the G.2 Prix Murat is front-and-centre on the afternoon’s card.

Third stage of the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters series, the 4,400m (2m6f) chase is for five year-olds and upwards and run over the gruelling external circuit of the Parisian track. The fourth stage, Prix Ingré, will take place in three weeks time, with the ultimate prize and final leg in the series, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, programmed for Sunday 21 May.

What the seven-runner field lacks in numbers for Saturday’s race, it most certainly makes up for in quality. Winner of the G.3 Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre on his return to competition late February, Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé’s seven year-old, Grandeur Nature, now looks precisely the mature, experienced campaigner required for next month’s highlight, and racegoers are unlikely to forget his courageous second to Figuero in last autumn’s G.1 Prix la Haye Jousselin.

One of the most consistent horses in the field, Metasequoia, ran a good second to Grandeur Nature last time out after having completed a somewhat profitable stint at Pau over the winter. Isabelle Pacault’s six year-old still has considerable progress left in him and giving away 2kg to the favourite will help his chances of turning the tables.

Second in the last edition of the Grand Steeple, Gex was shy on condition when sent out over hurdles last month, but is sure to be sharper this weekend. James Reveley remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury, so the capable Bertrand Lestrade takes over in the saddle.