King Edward sprang a surprise in the Grade 3 Prix Duc d’Anjou here in March, beating Al Cuarto by three-quarters-of-a-length with the penalised Dream Wish a close-up third and Road Senam fourth. That was a first victory for the winner but he is by no means certain to confirm the form with those behind on worse terms, particularly Guillaume Macaire’s charge. Autour De Minuit is still a maiden but getting closer but GARDONS LE SOURIRE is almost certain to make further progress as a four-year-old. He produced two solid runs over the larger obstacles at Compiegne in the autumn having won a hurdle in good style here previously.
Dream Wish (FR) (10-12) 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind King Edward (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar.
King Edward (FR) (10-3) won at Auteuil 2m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar beating Al Cuarto (10-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Al Cuarto (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind King Edward (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar.
Mauricius (FR) (10-7) 6th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Galant Du Chenet (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 2f gd in Feb.
Gardons Le Sourire (FR) (11-2) 2nd of 7, 10l behind The Revenant (11-2) at Compiegne 2m 1f lst hvy in Oct.
Road Senam (FR) (10-3) 4th of 6, 4 3/4l behind King Edward (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar.
Autour De Minuit (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Falstaff (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Mar.
