Article by JA McGrath: The most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history is eyeing more major prizes on the Flat – not least via Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban. Interview by JA McGrath
5:58PM, MAY 22 2021
L Autonomie has been clear at the head of France s hurdlers for two seasons in terms of talent but it took until this Grand Course de Haies for the mare to put it all together on the day that mattered most.
Countless hours put in by Francois Nicolle and his team in order to curb her more tearaway tendencies, while still preserving her essential brilliance, paid off in spectacular style as she ran out a 30-length winner of France s version of the Champion Hurdle.
Irish challenger Ronald Pump ran on through beaten horses to be fifth for Robbie Power having never really travelled, but for the vast majority of the 3m1½f trip, this was a match between Morgan Regairaz on thorough stayer Galop Marin, and Angelo Zuliani aboard L Autonomie.