The G.3 Prix Ingré, final preparation race for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in just over three weeks’ time, has drawn a small but choice field of eight. 

As expected, the first three home in the G.2 Prix Murat will be absent from Saturday’s 4400m (2m6f) highlight; Gex, Metasequoia and Grandeur Nature will skip the weekend’s activities and instead go straight for the 21 May season-ender. 

Spes Militurf headlines proceedings though. His spring plan, however, almost came apart as soon as it had started with a spill on comeback, but the six year-old rebounded earlier this month with a commanding victory over hurdles at Compiègne. With nine wins in ten starts, his maiden appearance at graded level has been long anticipated.

Winner of the valuable Prix du Président, Imperil faces a test at this level, while the Willie Mullins-trained Franco De Port, latterly third in a conditions chase during the Cheltenham Festival, is back at Auteuil to get his bearings before returning for the big day.

François Nicolle, whose stable has been having a hard time of it after being hit by a virus, sends out his veteran Poly Grandchamp who, aged 11, is due to run his first Grand Steeple, while Stablemate Le Lude has been taken out of the race at the last minute.

Prix Georges Courtois winner, Grand Diose, was expected to take in the Murat, however he gave himself a knock during his seasonal re-entry and now, fortuitously, runs in the Prix Ingré. Trainer Louisa Carberry recently stated that her 7 year-old gelding has fully recovered.

Ex-jockey-turned-trainer Dominique Bressou is confident that his talented Dream Wish is back at peak fitness after almost a year off the track, and insists that his participation on Saturday must be taken seriously.