French Grade 1 win for Nicholls Paul Nicholls celebrated an early Grade One victory this season after Ptit Zig claimed the Prix Renaud du Vivier at Auteuil yesterday. Ptit Zig had finished third behind Flaxen Flare in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival but bettered that performance when chasing home Diakali in a race restricted to four-year-olds, just as this one was, at this venue in June. That form was boosted after Diakali won at Naas on Saturday and Nicholls booked crack French jockey David Cottin for the mount. Just about in front turning into the straight, Cottin made a beeline for the rail and it paid off in the heavy ground as he stayed straight as an arrow, coming home two lengths clear of Le Grand Luce.
