Malbereux lands fourth success in Grand Cross
Report: France, Sunday
Pau: Prix Gaston de Bataille (Listed cross-country chase) 3m7f, 6yo+
MALBEREUX (Philippe Cottin/David Cottin) created history when landing his fourth consecutive victory in the Grand Cross de Pau, the opening leg of this season's Crystal Cup series.
David Cottin: delighted to win
PICTURE: Edward WhitakerCottin stood up in his irons and waved his whip at the crowd as the pair crossed the line after plotting a near-flawless path through an incident-packed race.
Fabien Dehez set out to make it a true test aboard the free-running Majaresca, who had beaten Malbereux over a shorter trip last month.
But the pair parted company when well clear at the eighth of the 29 obstacles, leaving Quezac De La Roque a slightly reluctant leader.
Chief market rival Onde De Choc was one of two casualties at the double bank known as the "Passage de Route," and it was a spring-heeled pair of leaps at the same obstacle on the final circuit that sent Malbereux into a lead he would never relinquish.
"He was absolutely at his best today," said an overjoyed David Cottin, who has overseen the preparation of Malbereux at Pau this winter.
"He jumped really impressively throughout, much better than last time."
Semiramiss gave vain chase in second, while Quick Baby stayed on in third for last season's Crystal Cup leading trainer Jerome Follain.
Also on Sunday
Pau: 125th Grande Course de Haies de Pau (Listed hurdle) 2m4½f, 5yo+
Rushwell(Guy Cherel/Cyrille Gombeau) was deemed worthy of contesting the Group 1 Grand Prix d'Automne at Auteuil in November, and having been campaigned over fences in the interim made a triumphant return to hurdling.
Gombeau always had the winner close to pace-setter Alpha Speed, and took it up swinging for home.
Philip Carberry: out of luck
PICTURE: Caroline NorrisHischief danger appeared to be Philip Carberry aboard former Willie Mullins inmate Quatre Heures, who had crept into the race menacingly.
But Rushwell found more after the last, and held the renewed challenge of Alpha Speed to score by alength and a half.
"He's as tough as wood, he's already been in many wars over fences and hurdles," said Cherel.
"He wasn't quite at the top of his form at the beginning of the meeting, but I wasn't too worried and I felt it was worth a roll of the dice. Cyrille gave him a great ride."
Pau: Prix Antoine de Palaminy (Listed chase) 2m3½f, 4yo
Cherel was earlier denied an upset win in the feature steeplechase when Usual Time was caught on the line by odds-on favourite Saint Palois (Jacques Ortet/David Cottin).
Saint Palois was heavily favoured to follow up his eight length success over Usual Time three weeks ago.
Yet the pair, who both run in the colours of the Papot family, had been separated by just a nose on their previous meeting, and once again it was a desperately close thing.
Saint Palois prevailed by a head to maintain his 100 percent record over fences at Pau, having looked beaten half way up the run in.
Pau: Prix Camille Duboscq (Listed hurdle) 2m1½f, 4yo colts & fillies
Cottin was also made to work harder than expected on another well-backed favourite from Ortet's local yard as Land Baron held the late challenge of Kayanoura.
Nathalie Desoutter looked to have timed her challenge just right on Kayanoura, but under a powerful drive from Cottin Land Baron rallied bravely to score by two lengths.
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