Petite Parisienne

Petite Parisienne put up a really nice performance to win the Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Settled back in the field by Bryan Cooper through the early stages of the race, the Gigginstown filly made nice progress around the outside to move in behind Kalkir at the second last flight. She tracked the Willie Mullins horse into the home straight, picked up impressively to join him on the run to the last, jumped that obstacle well and battled on well up the run-in to get home by two lengths.

The fact that the 40/1 shot Prussian Eagle finished a close-up third may hold the form back a little in many people’s eyes, but Charles O’Brien’s horse is progressive and this was a career-best from him on the fastest ground that he has encountered over hurdles. Also, the front three pulled miles clear, and the winning time was good, the fastest comparative time on a top class day’s racing, almost three seconds faster than the handicap hurdle and almost bang on Racing Post par.

A winner and a close-up third in a listed race over a mile and a half on the flat for Jean-Claude Rouget, this was just the Montmartre filly’s second run over hurdles for Willie Mullins. She probably should have won on her debut too at Punchestown, she just allowed another Gigginstown horse, Chatham House Rule, too much leeway in front and she couldn’t reel him in. She had that horse well behind her on Sunday.

The Spring Juvnenile Hurdle is an excellent pointer to the Triumph Hurdle, having produced the last three winners, Countrywide Flame, Our Conor and Tiger Roll. Petite Parisienne is a leading player in the Triumph Hurdle now. She showed battling qualities on Sunday that should stand to her at Cheltenham and she handled the better ground well. Fillies have a good record in the Triumph Hurdle from minimal representation, and she should progress again for Sunday’s experience.

8th February 2015