Prix Renaud du Vivier (Gr.I - Haies - 3.900m - 4ans)  It looked for a long time that the Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yos Hurdle (Gr1 - 3,900m) would escape the favourite Rock Noir (AQPS - Mansonnien). Having tracked his leader Longue Attente (Bernebeau), who pulled up on the far side, the partner of Alexis Acker was left alone in front. Tense and not jumping very well, he was then joined by Rochdale (AQPS - Video Rock), who came here off two successes and the Irish raider Jumbo Rio (Captain Rio). The latter was going very easily and seemed able to dominate the French. However the fight in the final straight was only resolved in the dying strides in the French horse's favour, who never gave up. More unexpected still was Najaf (Lost World), who looked completely beaten on the far side but made up considerable ground in the final phase.

JP McManus's "Rock" honoured his contract, but on a very tacky and trying track. The owner of Rock Noir had signed to keep the horse in France up until the Renaud du Vivier before moving him to Britain when he bought him. This latest victory might have changed his plans. JP McManus will meet with his advisors on Thursday and a decision will be made at this time. Wherever he goes, Rock Noir is rising five and next season will not be the easiest, unless of course he goes chasing in England as a novice. "Having a leader probably helped," said Marcel Rolland, who know has two of the best hurdlers in France in his yard. "According to Alexis Acker, he was very relaxed on the long straight past the grandstands. I only regret that Longue Attente couldn't keep going longer. He tensed up out in front and it was not ideal."

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Prix Sytaj (Listed - Steeple - 4.100m - 4et5ans) The result of the €95,000 Prix Sytaj Chase (Listed - 4&5F) took shape at the last hurdle. Miss Aubane (Kahyasi), who still looked in with a chance of victory, took off to early and fell. Rika d'Airy (AQPS - Cachet Noir) was left alone in front to go on to an easy success ahead of Rien de Plus (AQPS - Video Rock) and La Trattoria (Majorien). Winning jockey Christophe Pieux summed up in saying: "The heavy ground helped. She is a tough mare. But I think I would have been beaten if Miss Aubane had not fallen." Rika d'Airy came here off a second place in the Prix Elisa, a chase reserved for 4 and 5 year old AQPS females. For all of the mares in this race, this was one of their last chances to acquire black-type ahead of their future careers at stud. Rika d'Airy was bred by Claude Pelsy. Her dam, Jamica d'Airy (AQPS - Marasali) has already bred Quamino d'Airy (AQPS - Cachet Noir), winner of an AQPS steeplechase last year in Pau. She is also the sister of Damasko d'Airy (AQPS - Marasali), winner of the Prince d'Ecouen, a handicap hurdle.