Reveley in dreamland as So French proves just so good again

So French fought off the persistent attentions of Perfect Impulse to record back-to-back victories in France's version of the Gold Cup on Sunday, with an elated James Reveley giving the sunbathed crowd an emphatic uppercut salute at the line.

In contrast to 12 months ago, when So French was considered the third string for perennial champion trainer Guillaume Macaire, he arrived for the 2017 edition as the overwhelming favourite, even as the sun turned the going at Auteuil away from his favoured underfoot conditions.

"Last year it was a bit of a surprise," admitted Reveley, who will be presented with the Cravache d'Or as last season's champion jockey in a glittering ceremony in Chantilly next weekend.

"Everything just fell into place and it was brilliant, although it didn’t really sink in until a few days later.

'A lot of pressure'

"This year there was a lot of pressure on because I knew we had the best horse in the race and it was just a matter of getting a good run round. He jumped well and it was a great feeling to pass the winning post in front."

So French had to be tough at the end, but it was an extravagant leap at the big open ditch down the back on the final circuit that broke the spirit of most of his pursuers.

Reveley addd: "He's just a brilliant jumper. When he was younger he was prone to the odd mistake, but now he knows exactly what he's doing and you can be confident if you fire him in that he'll come up for you."

Macaire was celebrating his fifth Grand Steeple-Chase victory, and a fourth in the last five years.

"Today is really one to savour because last year was spoilt for me by the loss of As D’Estruval and all the drama around that," said Macaire. "This makes me really happy."

It was a great day for Team Macaire as the trainer's right-hand, Barbara Guenet, won the amateur riders' race, the Prix Marechal Foch, aboard Calva Du Rib.

Macaire said: "Barbara rides So French every morning and does all the schooling, while Reveley hasn’t sat on him since his last race. She's done everything with him."

European shorts

Haggas raider denied in Germany

The William Haggas-trained Lockheed split two Andreas Wohler-trained runners when he finished second behind the Jaber Abdullah-owned Poetic Dream in Sunday's German 2,000 Guineas in Cologne, which was settled by a neck and a short head.

Dettori out of luck in Derby Italiano

Frankie Dettori was out of luck in the Italian Derby at Capannelle on Sunday, finishing tenth of the 11 runners on the French-trained Kensai. The Group 2 contest went to Mac Mahon, who beat Stefano Botti stablemate Back On Board by five lengths.

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris result