L'Autonomie triumphs for dominant Nicolle as Pic D'Orhy fails to complete

Prix Renaud du Vivier (Grade 1 Hurdle) 4yo | 2m3½f

Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls suffered a frustrating afternoon as Pic D'Orhy came down when travelling well, though it was far too early to know whether he could have prevented former stablemate L'Autonomie from running away with the final Grade 1 of the season at Auteuil.

For trainer Francois Nicolle it was a third success at the top level in the space of seven days, quite an achievement when you consider there are only nine Grade 1s a year in the French jumping calendar.

A daughter of Yorton Farm-based Blue Bresil, L'Autonomie arrived here on a four-timer and proved to be head and shoulders above her contemporaries.

"She's a very good filly and we didn't leave anything to chance by going out there hard from the start," said Nicolle. "She usually gets an easy time of it on the lead but she had plenty of close attention and really knuckled down to it well.

"I think she'll stay over hurdles next year because I don't think Monsieur [Jean-Pierre] Coiffier, her owner-breeder, would be all that keen on taking on the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, albeit she's always schooled over the bigger obstacles.

"As far as travelling, it becomes hard when horses get very used to one track like Auteuil and while we'd never rule out coming to Britain, I think her future is round here."

Pic D'Orhy and Harry Cobden head out for the Prix Renaud du Vivier at AuteuilCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Pic D'Orhy was the second best horse of his generation at this stage last season in France but has not enjoyed the best of luck since joining Nicholls, having made a mistake at a key juncture in the Triumph Hurdle and then buckling on landing here at the first hurdle in the back straight.

"He settled and he was in a good rhythm but it's just one of those things, so we'll go back to the drawing board and have another go," said Cobden. Pic D'Orhy appeared none the worst for his fall, galloping all the way to the line.

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