Gemix retains his French Champion crown Irish and British raiders were unable to make a significant impact as Gemix successfully defended his crown in the French Champion Hurdle. Nicolas Bertran de Balanda's six-year-old slammed Solwhit in the Grade One contest 12 months ago and has recently run well twice in defeat behind Willie Mullins' unbeaten hurdler Un De Sceaux. Mullins sent a strong raiding party for this year's renewal of the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, with Thousand Stars, winner of the race in 2011 and 2012, joined by stable companions Diakali and Zaidpour, but none of them made the first three. The best of the raiding party was the only British runner, the Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkandar, who finished off his race to good effect to take third under Sam Twiston-Davies. Admirable grey Thousand Stars raced up with the pace from flag-fall in the hands of Katie Walsh, with her brother Ruby sitting in their slipstream aboard favourite Diakali. David Cottin was also prominent aboard 3-1 shot Gemix, but in the most part raced much wider than the Mullins contingent. Gemix swung into the straight in front, with Diakali seemingly travelling strongly, but the step up to almost three and a quarter miles ultimately appeared beyond him as he weakened into fourth, just losing third spot. Gemix galloped all the way to the line and Cottin punched the air as he passed the post well clear of Le Grand Luce and Zarkandar. Thousand Stars back-peddled quickly from the home turn, Zaidpour finished in midfield under Paul Townend and the other Irish-trained contender, Tony Martin's Bog Warrior, was never a factor for Barry Geraghty.
