Auteuil Delight For Carberry

Philip Carberry notched one of the biggest successes of his career when he teamed up with Princesse D'Anjou to take the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil.

Carberry, who enjoyed a high-profile win aboard Point Barrow in the Irish Grand National last month, rode a perfect waiting race as he came late and fast to floor odds-on favourite Cyrlight.

Turning for home, trainer Arnaud Chaille-Chaille looked set of a one-two as Cyrlight was duelling for the lead with stablemate and two-time French Gold Cup winner Kotkijet.

However, Carberry was just getting to work aboard the Francois Cottin-trained Princesse D'Anjou and he quickly began to reel them in.

Princesse D'Anjou hit the front coming to the last and Carberry conjured a terrific final effort from the five-year-old to win by two and a half lengths from the strong-finishing Rigoreux.

Kotkijet was a further two lengths away in third, with Cyrlight dropping away to finish an eight-length fourth.

Carberry, who had problems getting to the track on time after his plane was delayed, said: 'I can't believe it. This is a very, very good day. She's a good jumper, and was very fast at the finish. She jumped well all the way around.'

Cottin, a former assistant to Robert Collet who was adding the Grand Steeple to his win earlier in the season in the French Grand National, described the victory as 'incredible'.

The winner was bred by Gildas Vaillant, who added: 'I'm only a small breeder with a couple of mares down the country. This means so much.'

Cyrlight's connections believed the race had not been run in his favour as he lost his unbeaten record over fences.

'He didn't have a breather between the final two obstacles, that cost us dear,' said Herve Barjot, owner Sean Mulryan's racing manager.

Carberry and Cottin doubled up when Marie D'Anjou landed the the Prix Wild Risk.

Although Carberry was enjoying a red-letter day, the Irish horses were out of luck on the card, with Tony Mullins' Aintree and Punchestown heroine Asian Maze finishing unplaced in the Prix La Barka.

Michael Hourigan's Kerryhead Windfarm also came in unplaced behind the 11-10 favourite Mid Dancer, whose only racecourse defeat came in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Walsh had also been out of luck earlier as Willie Mullins' Quatre Heures could finish only eighth in the Prix de Longchamp.

? PA Sport