Favorite Blue Diamond And Johnny Charron achieved practically all the yards to justify the title of big favorite for the Prix Serge Landon – Grand Prix d’Automne Grade 1, the highlight of the first day of the important meeting of the 48 Hours of Auteuil.

But everything could have been very different as the five-year-old pulled off a flawless jump diving over the penultimate hurdle and was lucky to stay standing.

On the line he was a decreasing length and a quarter ahead of Heloy Delabarrière, with a rejuvenated Hermes Baie finishing third.

Coach Dominique Bressou and owner Xavier Papot were returning to victory in a race they won for four consecutive years between 2018 and 2021 with Galop Marin, while this is only the tenth time that the same horse has won both open hurdles de France of Grade 1 during the same season, as Losange Bleu continued its momentum during the Grande Course de Haies in May.

“I feel more than liberated by the result because he didn’t run well in his last preparation race and it’s a relief to get things back on track,” Bressou said. “He was untouchable, apart from the mistake of the penultimate player which could have cost us dearly. I can’t say more.”

Charron continues a golden period at the end of his career, signing a sixth Grade 1 success, a streak which only began with the 2022 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

“It was a mistake he made and I don’t know why, but other than that, what a horse,” said Charron, who dictated things from the start. “The trainer had done his job and, knowing I was on the best horse, I didn’t want to take any risks by staying behind.”

Bressou had a difficult autumn after learning he tested positive for a banned substance following Losange Bleu’s victory in the Prix de Compiègne on September 28.

The France Galop stewards have not yet commented on the positive, which Bressou revealed to the media as soon as he became aware of it and which appears to have been caused by contamination of a truck.

“I have to thank the Papot family for their continued support as it has not been an easy time,” said Bressou, who has never seen a horse fail an exam in 21 years with a license.

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