Corlay’s Grand Cross in June holds the key to a competitive renewal of Craon’s listed Prix Super U Grand Cross on Sunday, when the Lageneste-Macaire stable will look to consolidate its lead in this year’s nascent Crystal Cup in the absence of runners from the other main protagonists.

In that Corlay race, Horus d’Aubrelle, trained by Augustin Boisbrunet for Frederic Boistier, had 6l to spare over Roi Mage with Gamsoul a further 6 1/2l in third. Both meet on better terms, but 8 year old Horus d’Aubrelle is on a winning streak, with three from three in 2025, and looks to be improving. The Mathes – based 37 year old is gaining a strong reputation amid the Jumping community.

Roi Mage has been a terrific ambassador for the Crystal Cup, winning this race 12 months ago in style, and it has been his target since the off. Trainer James Griffin has spearheaded his French route through the best long distance chases in Britain &  Ireland with some success, but the winner’s enclosure has eluded him since that memorable win here a year ago, and he is in the twilight of his career at 13. He may not have the legs on some of the younger upstarts.

Gamsoul is another with miles on the clock. The nine year old has run in 39 races, for seven victories, but he looks a little below top class. His one 2025 victory in a busy year to date was in a Class 3 cross country over a shorter distance at FOntainebleau in March.

Trainer Eric Leray may well be placing more faith on his second runner in the race, Google de Loued. The nine year old was bested only 1/2l by the well-regarded Iloa Conti in Segré’s Grand Cross in late July, a Trophée National de Cross qualifier – usually a benchmark of the best of the genre, with good horses like Miss Laura behind, having won a handicap over 4,600m the previous month in determined fashion.

The Lageneste-Macaire stable come here fresh from a winning start in the Crystal Cup at Waregem on Tuesday, fielding 6 year old Klitchko de Belair, who is on the upgrade. The gelding prepped for this listed contest by winning over the same track here in June, but was well beaten behind Destin Sacre at Vittel in mid-July. He is unproven in Graded company as yet.

In that same Craon contest in June, the Pacault – trained Gare du Marin was a 12l third, and has something to make up to figure here, as does Speed des Landes, trained here at Craon by Nicolas Paysan, the second in that race. Speed des Landes has ground to make up on Demon de Fleur. Julien de Chevalier’s 12 year old had the best of Speed des Landes last month at Lion d’Angers, but he too has something to find to step up to listed company.

The field is completed by Imaginaire, a second and not unfancied runner for Augustin Boisbrunet for Englishmen Tobias Jones and Samuel Sutton. Imaginaire is two from three so far in 2025, with wins at Lignieres and Compiegne to his name, both run in very different ground. He has the measure of Speed des Landes on the Lignieres running but this is a higher class of race altogether.

Horus d’Aubrelle is fancied to continue his winning streak, with Google de Loued and Roi Mage the main dangers.