Just five runners went to post for Pau’s showcase cross country chase, the Grand Cross de Pau Allianz Olivier Ournac, and the substantial crowd who’d braved the intemperate conditions had come to see course specialist Hip Hop Conti deliver a fourth consecutive victory in the race.

However, it was clear from flagfall that the two that had filled the minor placings in this race 12 months previously were not going to allow the Emanuel Clayeux – trained Pau specialist to get his own way. Baptiste Leclerc sent Ici Avrilly out in front from the off, and the game 8 year old mare was only run out of it in the final 20 metres of this marathon 6,300m chase by Saint Godefroy, veteran of four previous renewals of this race.

Leclerc, atop a dour stayer, elected to make a searching pace, which had the field spread-eagled by 15l as early as the third fence. 2025 runner-up Saint Godefroy remained handy throughout, Thomas Beaurain keeping the leader in his sights on the oldest horse in the race, whilst James Reveley bided his time mid-division, only taking closer order less than 1,000m from home.

It wasn’t a day for exuberant steeplechasing, the sapping conditions ensuring a premium on stamina. Yet Ici Avrilly was a joy to watch, skipping over her fences like a pro, and entering the final straight 3l ahead of Saint Godefroy. Searching out what seemed better ground on the stands rail, she jumped the last a half length ahead of her rival, who’d saved ground running up the running line. That manoeuvre may just have won Beaurain the race, a neck separating them at the line.

Beaurain reported afterwards to Paris Turf that this was his first Grand Cross de Pau in 15 years of riding in this genre of race. He’d expected Hip Hop Conti to jump out, but when that didn’t arise, he’d adapted his plan.

Cross Country king Patrice Quinton has an admirable record with Saint Godefroy in this race, winning twice (2026, 2022), placed second and third, with one uncharacteristic fall.

The race doesn’t change the dynamic of the Crystal Cup however, although Quinton has leap-frogged rivals Gavin Cromwell and the Lageneste-Macaire stable into second place. It will need the Normandy maestro to travel his horses abroad and win to reel in the smart early season tactics of Josef Vana and his owner, Scuderia Aichner.

For the full race result, GRAND CROSS DE PAU – ALLIANZ OLIVIER OURNAC (PRIX GASTON BATAILLE) | France Galop