This Sunday sees the staging of another important step en route to the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil. Open to 5 year-olds and up, the G.3 Prix Hypothèse covers 3900m and, while its €155,000 prize fund is not to be sneered at, its importance in the hurdling calendar cannot be understated.

Losange Bleu, the most dominant 4 year-old hurdler of 2023, ended his year with victory in the G.1 Prix Renaud du Vivier. By some margin the highest-rated horse in the field, he nevertheless takes on some tough older horses for the first time, which could prove something of a test on his seasonal re-entry. 

Second in the G.3 Prix Juigné three weeks ago, July Flower has the benefit of a run under his belt and, having come on sufficiently, will be in a position to give Dominic Bressou’s charge something to consider.

Kapteen and Impérial Mag finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the Juigné and look similarly capable of challenging for a place on the podium. One horse whose return to competition will pique interest is the talented Ine Anjou, who has not raced since November when 2nd to Thélème in the G.1 Grand Prix d’Automne, albeit 10 lengths behind.

G.1 chasing winner, Amy Du Kiff could stay over hurdles this spring if he runs to the team’s satisfaction. Also making his reappearance is the ever-improving AQPS, Irish Vocation who has had 3.5 months off since coming 3rd in the G.2 Prix Leon Olry Roederer on 2 December. With so much untapped potential, he is hard to ignore.

In training with Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, and carrying the colours of his friend, Jean-Michel Bazire, Le Philosophe has black-type in both branches and is never dull to watch.