A low volume entry leaves the route wide open for course specialist Hip Hop Conti to score a fourth consecutive victory in Sunday’s Grand Cross de Pau – Allianz Olivier Ournac.

Emanuel Clayeux’s nine year old is riding high presently, unbeaten in two outings this winter, and set to record a fifth consecutive victory in the €79,000 contest over 6,300m. He has the measure of rivals Saint Godefroy, Shawinigen and Ici Avrilly on both recent form in the autumn and this equivalent race 12 months ago.

Commentator’s tongue-twister Kouroukoukou is Clayeux’s other runner, a six year old who graduated to the cross country division 12 months ago, and has shown considerable flair for the variety of obstacles, winning three of his five races. He is untried over this distance however, but given the small field and Clayeux’s eye for a cross country horse, should not be discounted from running into a place against the older horses.

Ici Avrilly and Saint Godefroy were second and third to Hip Hop Conti 12 months ago in this race, 3 1/2l and 8 1/2l apart. The eight year mare Ici Avrilly is unlikely to improve, and is not a faultless jumper, which doesn’t always play well over Pau’s obstacles, which are to be respected. Saint Godefroy was held by Hip Hop Conti in a shorter cross country at Pau 2 months ago, and there is little reason to suggest he can overturn that form.

Small fields can turn races into tactical affairs, so it will be interesting to see if any of the four looking to knock Hip Hop Conti off his perch are prepared to take the race by the scruff of the neck. In a race where the sheer number of obstacles put jumping at a premium, his rivals’ best chance is to put the record-holder under pressure.

Despite the small field, a fascinating contest in prospect.

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