The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains famously elusive for Willie Mullins, but Ireland's champion trainer will hope the French version is more rewarding when On His Own lines up in the €850,000 highlight at Auteuil on Sunday.
Not since Mandarin in 1962 has an overseas-trained horse landed the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, but Mullins has a second attempt at winning the race when the Ruby Walsh-ridden On His Own lines up in the three and three-quarter mile event.
The Irish hope is joined by the Paul Nicholls-trained Sire Collonges in a 15-runner contest due off at 3.05pm Irish time.
Mullins ran Pomme Tiepy in the Grand Steeple-Chase in 2009 when the mare finished eighth.
The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is the centrepiece of a weekend of action which sees Mullins run both Val de Ferbet and Gitane du Berlais in Saturday’s Grade Two Prix La Barka.
Last visit
Walsh is on board Val de Ferbet while France’s top female rider,
Nathalie Desoutter
, has been booked for Gitane du Berlais, a winner on her last visit to Auteuil in March.
The Mullins-trained Analifet (Bryan Cooper) lines up in a listed hurdle on the same Auteuil card.
Top-flight Irish flat interest will centre on Aidan O’Brien’s Cougar Mountain in Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes.
Joseph O’Brien is scheduled to do 9st on the Ballydoyle horse in the Group One mile event his father won with Hawk Wing in 2003. Cougar Mountain is drawn 17 of the 18 runners.
Ryan Moore rides Integral for Sir Michael Stoute.
