Losange Bleu makes history, becomes first to regain Grande Course de Haies crown

Losange Bleu did more than win the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil. At Auteuil Racecourse in Paris, the 7-year-old became the first horse ever to reclaim the 5,100-meter Grade 1, stretching clear from the front and beating Thélème by seven lengths with Jet Blue 12 lengths back in third.

That margin mattered because this was not a soft renewal. France Galop described the race as a gruelling staying test, and Losange Bleu made it one from the start, setting a relentless pace and never letting the field breathe. The result was an all-French-trained podium and a clear statement that, at his best, Losange Bleu now stands alone at the top of Auteuil’s jumping hierarchy.

The tactical intent was plain. Owner Xavier Papot said the team had decided to force the pace from the outset because they believed Thélème would try to follow and pounce late. Johnny Charron said he knew the British runners would try to make life difficult early and told Losange Bleu on the final circuit to “go on, enjoy yourself.” He added, “He’s a superstar,” after guiding him home.

That pressure also helped shape the race around Home By The Lee, one of the headline names from Cheltenham and Aintree. JJ Slevin pulled him up with a mile still to run, leaving a major question over whether the horse was exposed by the pace, trapped by tactics, or simply below his best on the day. Either way, the race became a brutal examination of stamina and jumping rather than a late-speed contest.

For Dominique Bressou, the performance confirmed both the horse and the stable. He said Losange Bleu was the fastest horse on the day and stressed the collective work behind the result, from the morning rider to the pre-training staff and breeding operation. Papot went further, arguing that horses of this calibre should stay in France so fans can see races of this quality at home.

The historical weight is hard to miss. The Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil was created in 1874, and only four runnings in the previous 15 years had been completed in under six minutes. Losange Bleu had already won the race in 2024 in 5:58.9, then finished runner-up in 2025 before taking the crown back in emphatic style. That is how champions at Auteuil are remembered, not as one-hit winners, but as horses who return and prove the first time was no accident.