James Reveley stars with three top-level wins on Group One-laden Auteuil card

What a Sunday for James Reveley! The British-born jockey, who has been based in France since 2015, won three of the four Group 1 races staged on the second day of the 48 Hours of Jump Racing. His third victory came aboard Guadalquivir in the Prix Renaud du Vivier. This remarkable treble comes shortly after James Reveley announced that he would take up training in January 2027, in partnership with Marine Pineda. From then on, he is expected to ride only very occasionally. In all likelihood, this was therefore his final appearance at the 48 Hours of Jump Racing.

Guadalquivir started as favourite for this prestigious championship hurdle race for four-year-olds and fully justified that status by making the running. Although Delmegan attempted to challenge him after the final hurdle, Guadalquivir had already established a decisive lead. Its Now completed the podium.

The colt, who remains entire, gave his trainers, Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, based at Avilly-Saint-Léonard on the outskirts of Chantilly, their second Group 1 victory of the day. He is jointly owned by his three breeders: Haras d'Etreham, the Chambure family's stud farm based in the Bessin region of Normandy; Haras du Saubouas, owned by Paul Basquin and located in the Gers department; and Mathieu Daguzan-Garros, who runs Haras des Granges, also based in the Gers. In due course, Guadalquivir is destined to retire to stud as a stallion.

Noel George, co-trainer of Guadalquivir, said: “Going into the final bend, I was confident. Admittedly, he tired a little after the last hurdle, but he is a genuinely talented horse. And Delmegan is a very good mare too. Guadalquivir has matured. He can maintain a strong pace on heavy ground, and I think he really puts his rivals under pressure when a race unfolds like that.”

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A magnificent battle unfolded over the 5,500 metres of the Prix La Haye Jousselin, which turned into a gladiatorial contest on ground made extremely testing by the rain! Kolokico, who had opened up a lead after jumping the rail ditch and fence, held off Royal Saga's challenge all the way to the line, while Lacokokeldy finished third, a length and a quarter behind.

Runner-up in last year's Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, Kolokico had finished fifth on his latest outing in the Prix Héros XII. The step up in distance and the softer ground played to the strengths of this outstanding stayer, whose stamina seems inexhaustible.

He provided a first Prix La Haye Jousselin victory for his jockey, James Reveley, who is set to take up training at the beginning of next year and is expected to ride only very occasionally thereafter, mainly aboard horses from his own yard.

Kolokico is trained by Emmanuel Clayeux, based in Vaumas in the Allier department. This was also the trainer's first victory in this Group 1 contest.

The horse is owned by Lord Daresbury in partnership with his breeders, Jacques Cyprès and his son Nicolas, who are based in the Nièvre department. Lord Daresbury was Chairman of Aintree Racecourse from 1989 to 2014 and played a significant role in the development of the Grand National, the legendary British steeplechase.

Emmanuel Clayeux, trainer of Kolokico, said: “He is a horse whose attitude in his morning work has changed enormously. For some time now, he has been doing the bare minimum, and we had a lot of doubts. We did not know whether he had lost his enthusiasm for work or whether we needed to change something in his preparation. Some of his gallops had reassured me, while others had been rather less encouraging. We knew today would be the moment of truth. In the end, he showed us that he was cleverer than we were, that he had been playing with our nerves a little, but that he was still the best.

Having won the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure in the spring, Métronomique achieved a remarkable feat by claiming the Prix Maurice Gillois – Grand Steeple-Chase for Four-Year-Olds just six months later, the first Group 1 race on the second day of the 48H de l’Obstacle. No horse had completed this double since Oculi in 2008.

Métronomique was ridden with tremendous confidence by James Reveley, who is set to embark on a training career in the near future. Always at the head of the field, he scored an emphatic victory over Teen Spirit, who is also trained by the Noel George-Amanda Zetterholm partnership, based in Avilly-Saint-Léonard, near Chantilly. Mélisse du Mathan finished third.

Métronomique is owned by a syndicate of British owners comprising Sharon Colleen Nelson, Vicki Robinson, Dermot O’Donohoe and John Cavanagh. He was bred in the Orne department of France by Edwige Le Metayer (Haras du Buff).

Noel George, co-trainer of Métronomique, said: “What a superstar Métronomique is! I wasn't expecting him to produce such a performance over 4,400 metres in the autumn, but he has once again shown that he is simply out of this world. He has been full of energy over the past few days. Karine, his exercise rider, who has brought him to peak fitness, was even struggling to hold him, he was feeling so well.

His jockey told me that he was very relaxed and jumped perfectly. He is simply a true champion. James Reveley also deserves tremendous credit for his ride. Watching horses jump so well under him is exceptional. He knows how to ride them prominently while getting them to jump every obstacle to perfection. We are going to miss him enormously next year.

As for Métronomique's future, I believe he has all the qualities needed to compete at the very highest level. He jumps with great ease and seems capable of adapting to different situations. A trip abroad could be considered for both our horses, but first we are going to enjoy this special day. We had built their entire campaigns around this target, and we will take our time before deciding what comes next.

As for Teen Spirit, he is stepping up in class and continues to rise to the occasion.”

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